Police guards withdrawn from five former Cypriot politicians following new risk assessments
The Justice Ministry announced that five former politicians and officials will lose their assigned police guards starting October 5. This decision stems from updated risk assessments by police concluding there is no longer a need for permanent security for these individuals. Among those affected are former House presidents Yiannakis Omirou, Demetris Syllouris, Marios Garoyian, and two widows of former presidents, Elsi Christofias and Androulla Vassiliou.
Former President Nicos Anastasiades will retain 12 police officers, but changes will be made in January when static guards at his Limassol residence are replaced with CCTV cameras. The overhaul follows instructions given after May’s parliamentary elections, shifting responsibility for security risk assessments from the cabinet to the police security committee. The committee will now conduct risk evaluations every six months and determine protection needs without cabinet approval.
Security measures currently in place for other political figures, including the House president and party leaders, are also under review. The ministry emphasized that protection adjustments will be strictly based on documented security risks, in response to previous concerns that security assignments were linked more to political influence than actual need.
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