**Hartsiotis Receives Police Guard Amid Ongoing Perks Investigation**
Presidential Commissioner Marios Hartsiotis is set to receive police protection starting September 24, following a request he made for an escort. This decision comes just one day after the Ministry of Justice announced the withdrawal of police guards from several former political figures, including three former House presidents and two former first ladies.
A document obtained by the newspaper Politis, signed by Deputy Police Chief Marios Agiotis, confirms that Hartsiotis will be accompanied by a police lieutenant and an officer serving as his driver and escort. The decision to assign Hartsiotis a police guard is reportedly known to the presidential palace.
The timing of this decision is notable, as it coincides with an investigation by the audit office into Hartsiotis’ use of a state limousine. The inquiry is focused on whether he was entitled to use a state vehicle for personal journeys to his residence in Limassol instead of utilizing his private vehicle.
The Ministry of Justice recently announced that police protection for former House presidents Yiannakis Omirou, Demetris Syllouris, and Marios Garoyian, as well as the widows of two former presidents—Elsi Christofias and Androulla Vassiliou—will be terminated next month. This decision was based on an updated risk assessment conducted by police, which concluded that there were no longer valid reasons to maintain permanent guarding for these individuals. The ministry emphasized that this change is strictly based on security assessments and not influenced by the individuals' statuses or institutional backgrounds.
Former President Nicos Anastasiades, currently assigned approximately 12 police officers, will see a shift in his security arrangements. Starting in January, the static guard at his Limassol residence will be replaced by CCTV cameras, although his escort of six officers and an additional six guarding his residence will remain unchanged.
The broader reassessment of police protection for political and state officials began in June, when Justice Minister Costas Fitiris directed the police security committee to review existing arrangements following the parliamentary elections in May. Under the new system, the cabinet will no longer determine who receives police protection, a shift prompted by a legal opinion asserting that the responsibility for assessing security risks lies with the police rather than the government. Risk assessments are now mandated to be conducted every six months or sooner if circumstances warrant.
Current arrangements indicate that House Speaker Annita Demetriou is assigned 10 officers, while Akel Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou has four and Diko Leader Nikolas Papadopoulos has three. Additionally, Elam Leader Christos Christou and Archbishop Georgios each have two officers assigned to them. Other political figures, such as Alma’s Odysseas Michaelides and Direct Democracy’s Fidias Panayiotou, have also been allocated two escorts each under the new directive.
As the investigation into Hartsiotis' use of state resources continues, the implications of these security changes and the ongoing audits may have broader effects on the governance and accountability of public officials in Cyprus.