Nicosia, Cyprus. Former president Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday that findings by the Anti-Corruption Authority had disproved allegations made against him in Makarios Drousiotis’ book Mafia State. He said he would respond in the coming days to a report which found he may have abused his powers as president in several instances.
Response to report
In a prepared statement, Anastasiades said allegations of enrichment, corruption and other accusations made by Drousiotis had “collapsed as non-existent”.
He also said that most of the accusations made by the investigating officers and the Anti-Corruption Authority were not included in Drousiotis’ allegations and had never been put to him during the investigative process.
According to Anastasiades, he was therefore not given “the opportunity to provide the appropriate, documented answers”.
Denial of allegations
Following publication of the report, Anastasiades said he would provide answers with evidence regarding both Drousiotis’ allegations and what he described as other unsubstantiated accusations.
He said he “categorically” denied the allegations and requested an immediate investigation by the relevant authorities.
Call for recusal
Anastasiades also requested that attorney-general George Savvides and deputy attorney-general Savvas Angelides be recused from any further investigations.
He said their recusal was necessary so that, in his view, the groundlessness of the allegations against him could be demonstrated with documentation.
