Police guards to be withdrawn from five former officials on October 5

Nicosia, Cyprus. Police guards assigned to five former politicians and officials will be withdrawn from October 5 following updated risk assessments, the justice ministry announced on Tuesday. The ministry said there were no grounds to continue permanent protection for the individuals.

Officials affected

The decision affects former House presidents Yiannakis Omirou, Demetris Syllouris and Marios Garoyian, who will each lose the two police officers currently assigned to them.

It also applies to Elsi Christofias and Androulla Vassiliou, the widows of two former presidents. Vassiliou has already returned her assigned driver to police headquarters.

Risk assessment

The ministry said the removal of protection followed an updated police risk assessment, which found that “there are no reasons to continue the permanent guarding” of the five individuals.

It said the decision was based solely on the risk assessment and was not related to an official’s status or institutional background.

Anastasiades arrangements

Former President Nicos Anastasiades, who currently has about 12 police officers assigned to him, will see changes to his security arrangements from January.

The static guard at his Limassol residence will be replaced by CCTV cameras. His escort of six police officers will remain, while a further six officers will continue guarding his residence.

New protection system

The review of police protection arrangements began in June, when Fitiris instructed the police security committee to reassess protection for political and state officials following May’s parliamentary elections.

Under the new system, the cabinet no longer decides who receives police guards, after a legal service opinion found that responsibility for assessing security risks rests with police rather than the government.

Risk assessments will be conducted every six months, or earlier where circumstances require.