Nicosia, Cyprus. Police said on Thursday that no arrest warrant has been issued for suspended Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos amid allegations of domestic abuse and rape. A special investigative team has been formed at police headquarters in Nicosia to examine the claims.
Police investigation and statements
Police spokesman Vyron Vyonos told Politis Radio that Phedonos has not been summoned to make a statement and that police are investigating both allegations. On the rape allegation, Vyonos said a statement has been made by the alleged victim.
Security at Paphos town hall
Paphos town hall remained under police guard throughout Wednesday night after Phedonos visited the building on Wednesday evening to collect personal belongings.
Expected formalisation of suspensions
The suspension of Phedonos, and of Lefkoniko mayor-in-exile Pieris Gypsiotis, who also faces allegations of domestic abuse, is expected to be formalised on Thursday when Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou returns to Cyprus from a working visit to Brussels. The interior ministry announced on Wednesday its intention to suspend both men, who are set to receive a third of their salaries while suspended.
Origin of the allegations
Allegations of rape against Phedonos resurfaced earlier in the week when Paphos-based land developer Theodoros Aristodemou of Aristo Developers accused him of committing the crime around 10 years ago and gave a statement to police.
The domestic abuse allegations emerged after social media personality Ioanna Photiou, known as Annie Alexui, said she held documents related to admissions of Phedonos’ wife, Louiza Andreou, to Nicosia general hospital in 2017 that stated she had been “beaten” by Phedonos. Newspaper Phileleftheros reported it had seen three electronic entries regarding hospital visits made by Andreou.
Andreou denied the accusations against her husband, writing in a social media post that her family was being subjected to a coordinated attack.
What do you think the formalisation of the suspensions could mean for the municipalities involved?