Anastasiades’s law firm sues anti-corruption authority over ‘Mafia State’ report

Local corruptionIndependent Authority against Corruptionmakarios drousiotisNicos AnastasiadesTop News Anastasiades’s law firm sues anti-corruption authority over ‘Mafia State’ report Anastasiades's Law Firm Sues Anti Corruption Authority Over 'mafia State' Report Relevant News Anastasiades’s law firm sues anti-corruption authority over ‘Mafia State’ report 17 September 2026 Shots fired at Limassol building linked to Ukrainian businessman (photos) 17 September 2026 Cyprus signs Bahrain shipping deal, eyes bigger role as East Med bridge 17 September 2026 Michalis Hadjivasilis 17 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Nicos Chr. Anastasiades and Partners LLC, the law firm of former President Nicos Anastasiades, has filed a court appeal against Cyprus’s Independent Authority Against Corruption — the first such legal challenge ever brought against the anti-graft watchdog, Phileleftheros has learned. The appeal seeks the full findings report compiled by inspectors the Authority appointed to investigate the “Mafia State” case, which implicates Anastasiades himself and two lawyers at his firm, according to Phileleftheros sources. It names Transparency Commissioner Haris Poyiadjis and members of the Authority as respondents. Because the Anti-Corruption Authority has referred only a small number of cases to the Attorney General for further criminal investigation, the question of whether named individuals can access the full report and evidence gathered against them has not previously come up. So far, only the Trimiklini case, former EDEK leafder Marinos Sizopoulos, Nicosia hospital general director Konstantinos Parmaklis, and now the 15 people and legal entities in the “Mafia State” case have been referred to the Attorney General for further inquiry. The Authority’s findings report, issued on June 16, 2026, alleges potential criminal responsibility for three individuals and the law firm connected to the former president. According to the report, the alleged offences are: Nicos Anastasiades — trading in influence (three counts, Paragraph 63); abuse of power as a felony (one count, Paragraph 58); and abuse of power as a misdemeanour, or attempted commission of a criminal offence (three counts, Paragraph 58 or Paragraph 67). Total: seven counts. Stathis Lemis, a partner at the firm — trading in influence (one count, Paragraph 63) and money laundering (one count, Paragraph 66). Total: two counts. Fanos Filippou, a partner at the firm — the same two offences as Lemis. Total: two counts. Nicos Chr. Anastasiades and Partners LLC — the same two offences. Total: two counts. Anastasiades has rejected all of the allegations against him. He has said he was not aware of everything attributed to him and has reserved his legal rights. The court appeal, and any further applications seeking orders for the report’s release, add a new element to the case. A team of five criminal investigators has begun work and held its first meeting last Monday, setting a schedule for taking witness statements. A separate seven-member team of police investigators will assist them. The background The case stems from Mafia State, a 2022 book by investigative journalist Makarios Drousiotis — a former Anastasiades aide — alleging systemic corruption within the state. The Independent Authority Against Corruption conducted a two-year investigation into those allegations, interviewing key witnesses including Drousiotis and Anastasiades himself, who testified for many hours spanning more than one day. The authority’s confidential final report runs to more than 3,000 pages and refers possible criminal charges to prosecutors across seven suspected offences connected to Anastasiades, including at least one felony — allegations of trading influence, abuse of power, and attempts to stymie an anti-money laundering probe involving his former law firm. The authority cautioned that every person mentioned carried a presumption of innocence and that only a court of law could determine guilt. Attorney General George Savvides and Deputy Attorney General Savvas Angelides subsequently recused themselves from the case, following intense public pressure. Both were appointed by Anastasiades and served as ministers in his administration. The Law Office then forwarded the findings directly to the police and the Cabinet, bypassing the top prosecutors, citing the need to preserve the objectivity of the investigation. Anastasiades has vehemently denied all allegations, calling them false, defamatory, and politically motivated. He filed defamation lawsuits against Drousiotis in 2024 and authored his own book The Slanderer, to rebut the claims. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Shots fired at Limassol building linked to Ukrainian businessman (photos) Cyprus signs Bahrain shipping deal, eyes bigger role as East Med bridge As European aid falls, Cyprus boosts its contribution, report finds Storms and hail forecast for Thursday, cooler weekend ahead French fishers block oil depot in protest over fuel costs Defence accuses Habakkuk Monastery witness of lying, presents ‘forged’ document Explainer: EU chief wants Canada to become an ‘associate member’. What does that mean? Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.