Cyprus anti-corruption authority has examined 645 of 911 complaints

Nicosia, Cyprus. The anti-corruption authority had received 911 complaints by the end of August 2026 and examined 645 of them, about 70 per cent, chairman Harris Poyadjis said on Tuesday.

Complaints and powers

Speaking at a Cyprus Forum event on the rule of law and the independence of institutions, Poyadjis said the complaints came from both institutions and private citizens.

The authority can summon witnesses. A witness who fails to appear or answer questions commits a criminal offence. The authority does not, however, have criminal investigatory powers. It forwards its findings to the attorney-general’s office, which decides whether to instruct police to conduct a criminal investigation.

Proposed changes

Poyadjis said the authority had recently received suggestions from the justice ministry on whether it should be granted criminal investigatory powers. Substantive discussions are expected to begin in October.

On the authority’s lack of prosecutorial powers, he noted “a reluctance on the part of authorities to move to that stage”.

The authority’s members are appointed by the president. The body was established in 2022 under the presidency of Nicos Anastasiades.