The Administrative Court of Cyprus has issued a new interim decision, reaffirming the legality of the 2022 Cabinet of Ministers resolution to revoke the Cypriot citizenship of persons included in the European Union sanctions list in connection with the martial law in Ukraine.
This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Following the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the Cypriot government, acting within the framework of EU Regulation 2022/581, decided to cancel the passports of a number of people who had previously received citizenship under the now closed Citizenship by Investment program. These individuals were among those included in the EU sanctions list for actions threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The victims filed a complaint with the administrative court, trying to obtain a temporary suspension of the government's decision pending a review of the case on the merits. However, the court, having studied the materials, ruled that the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers did not contain an obvious violation of the legislation of the Republic of Cyprus. Moreover, it was recognized that the revocation of citizenship does not cause irreversible harm to the plaintiffs, which became an additional basis for refusing to satisfy the interim measure.
The process now moves on to the merits of the case, where a final legal assessment of the legality of the government's actions will be made. The court has already encountered similar cases: in February of this year, a similar decision was made against a man who received a Cypriot passport, as well as his wife and two children.
Today, the European Union includes on sanctions lists more than 2,500 individuals and legal entities accused of undermining or threatening the independence of Ukraine. Sanctioned individuals face not only an asset freeze, but also a ban on entry and transit through EU countries, which makes the consequences of inclusion on the list extremely serious.
Legal sources note that the court's decisions demonstrate a new law enforcement practice in Cyprus, which is keen to show Brussels its readiness to strictly implement EU regulations, especially after a large-scale scandal with the golden passport program. This, according to analysts, is a signal that previous loopholes and opportunities to avoid responsibility are gradually disappearing.
Source: cyprus-mail.com
