Greek Cypriot administration faces severe legal problems over ‘golden passport’ scheme: Report

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) – The Greek Cypriot administration may have to contend with severe legal consequences if it tries to revoke citizenships doled out under its “golden passport” scheme, according to a local media report.

The European Commission’s recommendation that member states should rescind passports issued to Russian and Belarusian oligarchs who are on the bloc’s sanctions list has put the Greek Cypriot administration “in an awkward position,” said a report by daily Kathimerini on Wednesday.

The commission on Monday called on all EU countries to immediately stop the so-called “golden passport” and “golden residence permit” programs, which give people citizenship or residence of an EU country and access to restriction-free travel within the Schengen area if they invest a certain amount of money in the issuing country.

It has also asked all EU states to assess if citizenships granted in the past to Russian or Belarusian nationals can be withdrawn.

The Kathimerini report cited legal experts as saying that the Greek Cypriot administration “could be dragged through the courts, paying out millions in compensation” if it revokes citizenships given to Russians through the now-defunct citizenship for investment scheme.

The European Commission’s “infringement process” launched against the Greek Cypriot administration over the golden passport scheme “is still in progress,” the report said.

A public inquiry in June 2021 found the Greek Cypriot administration broke the law countless times to grant citizenship to over 6,700 people between 2007 and 2020, according to the report.

The probe revealed that more than half – 53% – of the 6,779 passports issued were done so illegally, it added.​​​​​​​