**Seven Police Officers Under Criminal Investigation Following Allegations by Annie Alexui**
An independent criminal investigation has been initiated into allegations made by Ioanna Fotiou, who is publicly known as Annie Alexui, against seven police officers in Cyprus. Fotiou announced on Friday that she had received confirmation from the Authority for the Investigation of Complaints against the Police (Aadipa) regarding the appointment of two criminal investigators to look into her claims.
Fotiou's allegations, which were first submitted in April, have been directed to the independent authority by Justice Minister Costas Fitiris. Following this, Aadipa informed Attorney-General George Savvides and requested the appointment of an independent investigator to handle the case. Fotiou has accused the officers of misconduct and corruption, stating that the complaints submitted thus far only represent a fraction of the evidence she claims to possess.
Among the senior officers named in Fotiou's allegations is Deputy Police Chief Michalis Katsounotos. She has accused him of protecting criminal interests and failing to properly investigate serious cases. Katsounotos has previously faced separate allegations from former Central Prisons Director Anna Aristotelous, who accused him of abusing his authority and colluding with a convicted prisoner. An independent investigation into those claims found no evidence of corruption, and the Attorney-General opted not to pursue prosecution based on public interest considerations.
Fotiou has also brought attention to the unresolved case of 17-year-old Andreas Loizou, who died in 2012 at the Mouttayiaka underpass in Limassol. At the time of the incident, Katsounotos was the head of Limassol traffic police. Allegations of a cover-up involving a high-ranking politician's daughter emerged, although no charges were filed, and authorities attributed missing records to technical difficulties.
Another senior officer implicated by Fotiou is Deputy Police Chief Panikos Stavrou. In May, she released excerpts from a sworn statement related to the investigation of the murder of Alexis Mavromichalis, who was also known as Alexui. Fotiou claimed that the material supported allegations that Stavrou received money from individuals involved in organized crime. The affidavit included witness accounts suggesting that Stavrou had contacts within the police who could "arrange their business" and mentioned "Panikos" in connection with these dealings. Additionally, Fotiou alleged that Stavrou was captured on video receiving a briefcase containing money. However, the alleged footage, reportedly stored on a USB device later recovered by police, was damaged and its contents could not be retrieved.
These allegations had previously been investigated by the police's internal affairs service, which did not find sufficient evidence of criminal wrongdoing against Stavrou. Notably, Fotiou has not publicly produced any evidence of the alleged video.
Fotiou has indicated that she possesses further recordings, videos, screenshots, and other materials that support her allegations against various police officers and public officials. She expressed a deep distrust of Cypriot authorities, stating that her concerns led her to seek asylum in Russia. "I don’t know why we had to get this far for this to happen," she remarked regarding the appointment of investigators. Fotiou has indicated a preference to provide her testimony online and is preparing to consult her lawyers on how to proceed.
Justice Minister Fitiris has emphasized the importance of submitting allegations through established legal channels rather than on social media. Fotiou has insisted on the need to present her evidence, including recordings of conversations with police officers, to substantiate her claims of misconduct and cover-ups. Authorities are currently working to obtain her formal testimony while she remains abroad.
It is important to note that this case is separate from the 13 arrest warrants issued against Fotiou in January. These warrants stemmed from complaints filed by police officers, members of parliament, and the public regarding alleged offenses such as harassment, the publication of false information, and violations of personal data. Notable complainants include Katsounotos and former Paphos police chief Nicos Tsappis, among other serving officers.
The unfolding investigation into the allegations against the seven police officers highlights ongoing concerns regarding police conduct and accountability in Cyprus. As the independent investigation progresses, the outcomes will likely have significant implications for both the accused officers and the broader public trust in law enforcement.