Cyprus has revoked citizenship from 28 people who gained it through the Cyprus Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program, continuing the government’s review of naturalizations under the terminated program
The Council of Ministers approved the latest batch this week, bringing the total revocations under President Nikos Christodoulides to 41 cases affecting a total of 150 people.
The government revoked citizenship from 41 CBI investors and 109 of their family members. Cyprus also issued formal deprivation orders for 69 individuals whose cases were decided upon by the government between 2021 and 2023.
Cyprus has revoked citizenship from 360 people since Cyprus ended the program in November 2020. This includes 101 investors and 259 family members. The government has completed the full revocation process for 112 individuals and canceled their passports.
A judicial inquiry by former Supreme Court judge Myron Nikolatos found that 53% of the 6,779 citizenships granted between 2007 and August 2020 failed to meet legal requirements. The investigation examined application procedures across government departments.
Charles Savva, founder and managing director of Savva & Associates, notes that the revocations represent a small fraction of the program’s total output. He explains that “statistically, they remain very low in proportion to the overall approvals” given that Cyprus granted 6,779 citizenships during the program’s lifetime, likely representing over 3,000 separate applications the program processed during its operation.
Savva observes that revocations “have been due to false declarations or information being withheld” rather than broader systemic issues with approved applications. He argues that the current revocation figures affect fewer than 100 actual applications out of the thousands the program processed during its operation.
The program ended after an Al Jazeera investigation recorded former House Speaker Demetris Syllouris and former MP Christakis Giovanis discussing citizenship arrangements for an undercover reporter posing as a Chinese businessman. Both officials resigned after the broadcast.
Current Legal Proceedings
Syllouris and Giovanis face criminal charges, including conspiracy to subvert the Republic and influencing public officials. Both pleaded not guilty. Court records show Syllouris received 200,000 euros for services to Giovanis’s property company, while his daughter received 70,000 euros separately.
Defense lawyers are calling witnesses, including parliamentary secretary general Socrates Socratous and Elena Papandreou, former secretary to ex-President Nicos Anastasiades. The witnesses will address a presidential letter authorizing officials to promote foreign investment after Cyprus’s 2013 economic crisis.
The Ministry of Interior calls the revocation process part of efforts to enhance transparency and align with European Commission recommendations. Officials are drafting amendments to the Civil Registry Law to address gaps the judicial inquiry identified.
Legal Framework for Revocations
IMI asked Demetris Demetriades, managing partner and head of the Immigration and Real Estate Department at Andreas Demetriades & Co., about the legal mechanisms governing citizenship revocations. He explains that the Republic of Cyprus may revoke citizenship under three specific circumstances:
Someone obtained citizenship fraudulently through false representation or concealment of material facts
Conviction of a serious criminal offense that typically carries 10 years or more imprisonment, whether in Cyprus or abroad
Acting in a manner seriously prejudicial to Cyprus’s public interest, including terrorism, corruption, or violations of international sanctions
Many current revocations stem from facts that emerged after Cyprus granted citizenship, he said. This includes Russian nationals under sanctions or individuals who have been convicted of offenses following their naturalization. The government now operates a monitoring system to identify breaches and revoke citizenship after affected individuals have had the opportunity to contest the facts.
The revocation procedure follows a structured process. Individuals receive written notice stating the intention to revoke their citizenship and the reasons. They have 30 days to submit objections before a three-member Advisory Committee, which the Council of Ministers appoints, reviews the file, and responds.
The Committee submits a recommendation to the Council of Ministers. If the Council approves, the government issues and publishes a Revocation Order in the Official Gazette. He explains that affected individuals retain several appeal options:
Appeal to the Administrative Court of Cyprus within 75 days under Article 146 of the Constitution
The Court examines whether officials made the decision lawfully, reasoned it properly, and followed due process
Further appeal on points of law to the Supreme Constitutional Court
Application to the European Court of Human Rights if individuals exhaust domestic remedies and officials violate fundamental rights
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