AG to appoint independent investigator for Alexui case against seven police officers

An independent criminal investigator is appointed to investigate the recent allegations by Ioanna Fotiou, known publicly as Annie Alexui, in regard to corruption allegations she has levied against seven police officers.

According to Phileleftheros, Justice Minister Costas Fitiris had forwarded Alexui’s complaints to the independent authority for the investigation of complaints against the police on Thursday, who held an extraordinary session whereupon the body requested that attorney-general George Savvides move forward to appoint an independent criminal investigator to the case. 

Alexui had confirmed on Wednesday her submission of formal complaints and evidence directly to Fitiris.

In a video statement and accompanying correspondence, Alexui said she had proceeded with what she described as the “first part” of her allegations through one of the legal avenues previously outlined to her.

The complaints were submitted via her lawyer to an official email address, while she also confirmed sending the same material to the minister’s personal email.

Alexui indicated that further allegations may follow, stating that “there are other police officers about whom I have much more serious material”.

In a letter addressed to Fitiris and made public, she wrote that the complaints “constitute only a portion of the total material in my possession” and that her approach is intended to establish “whether any actions will be taken, whether the cases will be officially registered, and whether there will be a real investigation into the incidents”.

She insisted that similar complaints have been filed with institutions outside Cyprus, though she did not specify which bodies.

Fitiris had previously confirmed receipt of an earlier letter from Alexui in which she sought guidance on how to proceed.

At the time, he said that “specific instructions for the next steps” would be provided and emphasised that allegations must be formalised through testimony and evidence rather than social media posts.

“The case cannot be substantiated through social media,” he said in earlier remarks, adding that the objective is “to take her testimony and the evidence she claims to hold and to investigate, with the appropriate procedures, what she alleges”.

Authorities have been attempting to secure Alexui’s cooperation in a structured manner, particularly given that she is believed to be seeking asylum in Russia.

The case forms part of an ongoing controversy surrounding Alexui’s public allegations, which have circulated widely online and prompted calls for formal investigation.

Her claims have included accusations against senior police figures, such as deputy police-chief Michalis Katsounotos and references to past incidents she says were not properly investigated.

Katsounotos has featured in several past controversies, including accusations by former central prisons director Anna Aristotelous that he abused his authority and colluded with a convicted felon to obtain compromising material against her.

An independent investigation found no evidence of corruption, and attorney-general George Savvides declined to pursue prosecution at the time on “public interest grounds”.

Katsounotos’ name has also been linked to the unresolved 2012 death of 17-year-old Andreas Loizou in the Mouttayiaka underpass in Limassol, when he was head of Limassol traffic police.

Despite eyewitness accounts and repeated allegations of a cover-up involving a high-ranking politician’s daughter, no charges were brought.

Authorities have consistently denied interference, attributing missing police records to technical issues.

Alexui has previously expressed distrust towards state institutions, including law enforcement and legal authorities, while maintaining that she holds recordings, documents and other material related to alleged misconduct.

“Will the attorney-general appoint trusted people to investigate? The same man who is covering up Katsounotos and so many others? The same attorney-general who approved my European warrants? What they are doing is ridiculous.”, she had commented on Sigma TV previously. 

Fitiris has previously stressed that allegations cannot be accepted at face value nor dismissed outright without examination.