Cyprus to withdraw police protection from four former political figures following legal review
Cyprus will entirely withdraw police guards from four individuals, including former House Presidents Yiannakis Omirou and Dimitris Syllouris, as well as Elsi Christofias and Androulla Vasiliou, widows of former Presidents. Additionally, the guard detail for former President Nicos Anastasiades will be reduced, though the number of officers to be cut has yet to be decided. These changes follow a legal opinion from the Law Office of the Republic, clarifying that the Police—not the Cabinet—are responsible for deciding who receives police protection due to security concerns.
The Justice Ministry confirmed the policy shift, emphasizing that all existing guard details are undergoing re-evaluation based on risk assessments carried out by the Police. This adjustment comes after the withdrawal of guards from political figures such as the Justice Minister Costas Fytiris and the EDEK leader Nikos Anastasiou. Police protection for political figures has been standard since the 1970s but lacked a clear legal framework until now. Protection will continue only where objectively warranted, with reassessments every six months or as needed.
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