justice

President says everything will investigated in monastery scandal

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President says everything will investigated in monastery scandal

President Nikos Christodoulides stated that all aspects of the scandals at the Osiou Avakoum monastery will be thoroughly investigated. He responded to criticism from the opposition party Akel, asserting that the scandal does not reflect governmental failures. Christodoulides emphasized that any cases arising from the investigation would be brought to justice promptly, highlighting ongoing investigations into police responsibilities and allegations. The police have been criticized for their handling of the monastery scandal but have denied giving the church special treatment.

Track coach found guilty of sexual assault of athletes

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Track coach found guilty of sexual assault of athletes

A track coach was found guilty by the Permanent Criminal Court of Nicosia of sexual and indecent assault against former athletes who were minors at the time. The case involved four complaints from former athletes who trained in Larnaca. The coach denied all charges, and the case was concluded after a months-long hearing. The sentencing will be discussed on April 2, with the defendant’s lawyer pleading for mitigation. The case gained attention following a complaint by Cypriot skeet champion Andri Eleftheriou about a different abuse case, leading to public calls for better protection for athletes from sexual predators.

This is not a battle for perceptions, serious crimes have been committed

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This is not a battle for perceptions, serious crimes have been committed

The text discusses a series of scandals involving monks, including fraud related to miracles, romantic activities, and other misconduct. It mentions leaked videos, letters, and dialogues that have become public, contributing to the scandal. The Attorney General has appointed criminal investigators to work with the police on investigating potential criminal offenses related to these incidents. The text also describes specific examples of alleged misconduct, including a video of monks preparing myrrh and another video showing a monk striking a woman. In the latter case, the woman later claimed the video was edited and took responsibility for the misunderstanding, leading the police to state they cannot proceed without a complaint from her. The text criticizes the handling of these scandals and expresses concern about the impact on public opinion and the potential for more serious crimes to be uncovered.

Archbishop expresses regret over monastery scandal

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Archbishop expresses regret over monastery scandal

Cyprus’ Archbishop Georgios expressed regret over the scandal at the Osiou Avakoum monastery involving allegations of fraud, misconduct, and immorality among clergy members. He announced a thorough investigation into the scandals and urged police and authorities to fully investigate. The Holy Synod has tasked its judicial bodies with investigating the case. Additionally, the monastery is under scrutiny for being built on land protected under the Natura 2000 environmental policy, leading to legal action against the monastery, the church committee, and Archimandrite Nektarios Georgiou for unauthorised constructions. Two investigators have been appointed to examine any criminal offences related to the case, and there are calls for the money laundering unit to investigate the church. Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis committed to fully investigating the scandal.

‘Investigate church donations for money laundering’

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‘Investigate church donations for money laundering’

The attorney-general’s office in Cyprus has appointed two investigators, Ninos Kekkos and George Papaioannou, to examine criminal offenses related to an ongoing scandal involving monks. MPs have urged the money laundering unit (Mokas) to investigate the church following revelations about monks paying for social media posts to increase cash flow. Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis has committed to a thorough investigation of the scandal. Allegations have emerged involving the far-right Elam party leader Christos Christou, former police chief Kypros Michaelides, Mokas, and the police. Concerns were raised about €800,000 in cash found at the Osiou Avvakoum monastery and the handling of the money. MPs have suggested that the church might be involved in money laundering, citing donations from Russian oligarchs and Malaysian businessman Jho Low. The church’s financial dealings, including those with foreign donors, are under scrutiny, with calls for a more rigorous investigation into the source of the funds. There are also allegations of police misconduct in the handling of the money transfer operation related to the scandal.

‘We should ask why there are so many medical schools’

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‘We should ask why there are so many medical schools’

Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar addressed the “fake diploma scandal” affecting the north’s higher education sector. He mentioned criticism regarding the excessive number of medical and dental schools relative to the population and suggested that the north’s higher education accreditation authority (Yodak) might have been negligent. Tatar had previously called for Yodak chairman Turgay Avci to resign due to allegations of bribery during the accreditation process of the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU)’s medicine school. The north’s ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel stated the ‘government’ is actively addressing the issue to minimize negative impacts on the higher education sector and emphasized the importance of justice and maintaining the country’s reputation.

EU initiates legal action against Cyprus for conservation failures

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EU initiates legal action against Cyprus for conservation failures

The European Commission has referred Cyprus to the Court of Justice of the European Union for not complying with the habitats directive (Directive 92/43/EEC). Cyprus has designated 37 sites as special conservation areas but has failed to establish necessary conservation measures for 28 of these sites and has inadequate conservation objectives for 5 sites. The Commission had previously sent Cyprus a warning letter in June 2021 and a reasoned opinion in April 2022. Despite some progress, the efforts by Cypriot authorities are deemed insufficient by the Commission. The habitats directive aims to protect biodiversity by establishing the Natura 2000 network, requiring member states to identify, propose, and manage sites of Community importance for species and habitat conservation. The Commission has also initiated infringement proceedings against 16 member states regarding the designation and management of special conservation areas.

Split in Israel coalition points to return of politics as normal

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Split in Israel coalition points to return of politics as normal

– A centrist bloc in Israel’s unity government led by former defence minister Benny Gantz has dissolved.
– This development is increasing pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the ongoing Gaza war, which has lasted for five months.
– Gideon Saar, a former justice minister and ex-member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, left the partnership with Gantz to form a separate centre-right bloc in parliament.
– The coalition shifts, including Saar’s move, are common in Israeli politics and are not expected to immediately affect the government’s stability.
– Analysts interpret the breakup as a sign of a return to the usual political dynamics in Israel, highlighting a growing divide between right-wing and center-left factions.
– Gantz, considered a strong candidate for Israel’s next prime minister, recently made unapproved visits to Washington and London, causing upset among right-wing and religious nationalist coalition partners.
– Gantz has called for unity in the government and suggested that elections should be held after the war to allow candidates to present their contributions to the country.
– A poll by Channel 12 showed increasing support for early elections, with 50% of right-wing voters in favor, and Gantz’s National Unity Party leading over Likud by a significant margin.

New Nicosia court buildings in five years

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New Nicosia court buildings in five years

The construction of the new Nicosia District Court buildings is expected to be completed in five years, as announced by Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades. This announcement was made following a House legal committee meeting which was also attended by Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis. Preliminary work for the construction, including archaeological and explosives surveys as well as a traffic study, has been completed. An initial costing of the project has also been done. The transport ministry is addressing the need for a second access passage through the adjacent Unficyp camp and is in contact with the department of public works. The next steps include updating the budget to reduce costs, adjusting the designs in consultation with the department of urban planning, and launching an architectural competition. Additionally, the foreign ministry is consulting on moving buildings of the Unficyp camp, with final recommendations expected.

Cyprus taken to EU court over precious sites

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Cyprus taken to EU court over precious sites

The European Commission has referred Cyprus to the EU Court of Justice for not fulfilling obligations under the Habitats Directive, aimed at protecting over a thousand EU animal and plant species. Cyprus has designated 37 Special Areas of Conservation but failed to establish conservation measures for 28 sites and provided inadequate conservation objectives for five sites. This referral follows a formal notice in June 2021 and a reasoned opinion in April 2022. The Habitats Directive requires member states to designate Sites of Community Importance as Special Areas of Conservation within six years, implementing necessary conservation measures. The Commission’s action is part of efforts to protect and restore biodiversity under the European Green Deal’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, with infringement cases pursued against 16 member states regarding conservation designations and measures.