Cyprus to reassess police protection for former officials and political figures
A new system will place responsibility for police protection decisions with the police following regular security risk assessments.
Nicosia, Cyprus. Former first ladies Elsi Christofias and Androulla Vassiliou are among those whose police protection will be withdrawn under a new system taking effect this month. Security details for former House presidents Demetris Syllouris and Yiannakis Omirou will also be reduced.
Police to determine protection measures
Under the reform, the cabinet will no longer decide who receives police guards after a legal service opinion found that responsibility for assessing security risks and determining protection measures rests with the police.
The justice ministry said all existing protection arrangements would be reassessed. Risk assessments will be conducted every six months, or sooner where necessary.
“Police guarding is a security measure and is provided where an objective risk assessment documents its necessity,” the ministry said.
Current protection arrangements
Former president Nicos Anastasiades currently has 12 officers assigned to him, while House speaker Annita Demetriou has 10. Akel secretary general Stefanos Stefanou has four officers and Diko leader Nikolas Papadopoulos has three.
Until now, Christos Christou, Marios Garoyian, Demetris Syllouris, Yiannakis Omirou and Archbishop Georgios each had two officers assigned to them. Elsi Christofias and Androulla Vassiliou each had one officer.
The reassessment is expected to reduce or end some arrangements where police determine that an objective security risk does not justify continued protection.
Review ordered after elections
The new procedure follows a review ordered by Fitiris in June, when he instructed the police security committee to reassess protection arrangements for political and state officials.
The review followed the May parliamentary elections, which changed the political landscape and raised questions over protection for figures whose parties had lost parliamentary representation, as well as arrangements for leaders of newly elected parliamentary parties.
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