Current Events

In what is being a considered a groundbreaking move that will go on to redefine the political structure of Cyprus, the country’s interior ministry has approved its first ever “Russian party” comprising Russians who have gained Cypriot citizenship.

The newly-formed party that the interior ministry has approved is formally called ‘I the Citizen’ (EOP) will be unveiled officially in the upcoming week, according to the Cyprus Mail.
Widely known as the “Russian Party” in Greek-Cypriot media, the EOP is reportedly being headed by Alexei Voloboev, a Russian-Cypriot who owns a restaurant in Limassol and was granted Cypriot citizenship later in life.
The EOP filed an application to register as a new party with the interior ministry in May, and after much discussion and deliberation, was approved by the Cypriot regulatory body. Kypros Kyprianou, the permanent secretary of the interior ministry himself confirmed the approval, stating that the party had followed every rule and regulation and fulfilled every requirement.

While the party is indeed back by Russian businessmen who are based in Cyprus, Demetris Michalokakos, spokesperson for the party has told Phileleftheros, the local daily newspaper that the party is very popular and been welcomed by several Cypriots with open arms. He also added that the party was open to all Cypriots and Europeans citizens to join and be involved in.

The newly-minted party aims to bring about large improvement in the business side of public life, which includes (but is not limited to) developing new technology, advancing the e-government system, propelling the economy towards growth, and most importantly, cutting through red tape.

The party has a decent social media presence, which will only serve to expand in the near future. Currently, the party has accounts on Twitter (@EOP_CYPRUS), Instagram (@eop.cyprus) and Facebook (@EOP.Cyprus).
The party lists its mission statement on its social media accounts as “the unification of citizens of Cyprus with modern views into a single political party”. It also has some posts on social media which contain links to press stories about the party’s founding and logo.

While the details are unclear, it is known that the EOP plans to contest in the European parliament elections in 2019. It is unlikely, however, for the party to back any of its existing candidates in said elections.

In what is being considered a great move to cover the needs of the country’s youth, Labor Minister Zeta Emilianidou has announced that the state will hand out a €650 monthly stipend to all law-school graduates who are unemployed and are yet to be fully and formally trained.

Emilianidou further elaborated that the scheme was specifically aimed at helping unemployed, young law graduates under the age of 29 complete their mandatory training. She also stated that similar schemes will be launched for civil engineers and other professions which legally require practitioners to complete a certain period in training.
Co-funded by the European Social fund, the scheme includes employer’s insurance and social insurance contributions, in addition to the monthly €650 stipend.

Over 450 individuals graduate from law school in Cyprus every year. The scheme will help a large percentage of these secure the financial support that they need as long as they are completing their post-study training.
Intended to run till 2020, the scheme will be operated by the Cyprus Bar Association, along with law graduates who had begun their one-year training period on September 1.

As of 2017, Cyprus is the 64th most competitive country in the world, according to the Global Competitiveness Report issued by the World Economic Forum.

Popularly known as the Davos Forum in Cyprus, the international institution announced that the island country climbed 19 places and to gain its current rank as 64th among 137 countries all over the world in the comparative table of economies, and the 25th among European Union member states. For a country that has suffered much throughout its history, that surely does signify a considerable amount of progress.

The study was of course, conducted by the World Economic Forum, with the Bank of Cyprus and the European University of Cyprus acting as its partners within the country.

According to a press release that was issued by the European University of Cyprus, the island country ranks 64th as regards the extent of competitiveness of its economy.

The top ten players in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report, however, remains exactly as they were last time, with one minor difference. Switzerland was once again at the top of the list and the USA took second place, overtaking Singapore which slipped down one place. Close on its heels are The Netherlands, Germany, Hong Kong, and Sweden, followed by Britain, Japan, and Finland – all of which make up the top ten.

The ranking was decided on the basis of every country’s statistical financial data, along with in-depth and insightful interviews that were conducted with organizations and with representatives of various businesses.
The rank awarded to Cyprus’ was based on the following “twelve pillars”: Goods market efficiency (25th), Infrastructure (30th), Technological readiness (32nd), Health and primary education (39th), Labor market efficiency (39th), Higher education and training (46th), Institutions (51st), Innovation (53rd), Businesses sophistication (55th), Macroeconomic environment (97th), Financial market development (108th), Market size (109th).

The wise man always said to keep your friends close (and your enemies closer too – but that’s another matter), and Cyprus and China’s recent exchanges have only served to affirm the adage. Nicos Anastasiades, the President of the island country of Cyprus had nothing but good words to say for China and the relationship between the two nations.

Speaking on the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China at the Chinese Embassy in Cyprus, President Anastasiades emphasized how the relationship between the two nations is based on mutual friendship and true friendship, which is bound to increase over time. He further elaborated how bilateral relations amidst the two countries had grown in a wide variety of fields such as commerce, energy, and investment, and of course, technology and tourism, and added how these relations will only serve to strengthen with the passage of time.

The President also extended his gratitude to the Chinese government for providing much-needed support to the Cypriot government, following a meeting between President Anastasiades and Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister of China, which was held on the sidelines of the UN Assembly. Huan Xingyuan, the ambassador of China in Nicosia, wished the Cypriot President a happy birthday, which was coincidentally on the same day, and emphasized on the importance of China to further the already very close bilateral relations between the two nations. The relationship between the two countries has warmed-up considerably in the last few years, with President Anastasiades visiting China in 2015 to establish firm business relations to allow for better trade and commercial activities, and with Chinese entrepreneurships and companies being given the green signal to invest in and increase their involvement in Cyprus, and avail some added opportunities and advantages.

In what is being regarded as a landmark decision that will have a great impact on the criminal justice system throughout Europe, High Court Judges in Cyprus have ruled that the country will no longer act as a safe haven for UK national fugitives to avoid punishment for their crimes.

The island country’s breakaway Turkish part, which has long since been used as a haven by fugitives from the UK, ceased to act as one after the High Court Judges ruled that extradition from the country is very much on the charts. The judges explained there was “absolutely nothing” that should prevent the British police from co-operating with Cypriot law-enforcement agencies to catch and extradite criminals from their country who are currently hiding in the island country. They added that this also implies that fugitives who would refuse to return to the UK for their trial can and will be prosecuted in Northern Cyprus.

The case in question that led to the landmark change was that of Hasan Akarcay, a 60-year-old businessman who is a prime suspect in a serious crime involving narcotics. After the discovery of a consignment of 12.5kg of heroin in Bradford, Mr. Akarcay had left the UK and made Northern Cyprus his home in 2006. The West Yorkshire Police has stated that fingerprint evidence has been found on the drugs, which successfully links Mr. Akarcay to the crime. The drugs have been estimated to be worth £600,000.

Mr. Akarcay will now be prosecuted in Northern Cyprus after the UK authorities have proved his involvement in the crime, and passed on evidence of the same onto Turkish Cyprus. A part of said evidence was given to Northern Cypriot officers on official visit in the UK, while the rest was handed over to Cypriot authorities directly by an official of the National Crime Agency.

Mr. Akarcay, however, wouldn’t give up without a fight, with his legal team taking the case to High Court, claiming that it was illegal for the UK to offer any kind of assistance, let alone pass over evidence to authorities in Turkish Cyprus. His lawyers stated that by co-operating, the UK and Northern Cyprus engaged in an “act of recognition” – an act that is illegal since it breaches the UN Security Council resolutions’ terms.

Their claims were soon rebuffed by Lord Justice Burnett, who declared that UK is not obliged to follow any law which prevents their government from recognizing Northern Cyprus, further adding that the UN itself works closely with enforcement agencies in the latter country in order to maintain law and order and maintain an optimum level of co-operation between the island’s two parts.

The judge, who considered the case with Mrs. Justice Thirlwall, further added that the co-operation was made due to the fact that the issue in question was that of public interest. Akarcay was a prime suspect in a drug conspiracy, and would certainly have been prosecuted if he had stayed in the UK.