Acquittal of Syliouris and Giovani by the Criminal Court
February 18, 2026
Former Speaker of the House, Dimitris Syliouris, and former MP, Christakis Giovani, were acquitted by the Permanent Criminal Court of Nicosia. The decision was made by majority, with the court members emphasizing that the testimony was not sufficient for a conviction. The charges involved influence peddling and conspiracy to defraud, but the court's majority disagreed with the prosecution's interpretation. The decision highlights the lack of evidence for any undue pressure. The case has sparked disagreement regarding the legal framework of the offense of influence peddling.