OREANDA-NEWS. The government of Cyprus for 13 years illegally granted citizenship to almost 3,500 relatives of investors and managers of large companies under the Cyprus investment Program. It provided for the granting of citizenship in exchange for investment, according to the Interim Report of the Committee of Inquiry established to study naturalization as an exception for foreign investors and entrepreneurs from July 11, 2007 to August 17, 2020.

The report, which is more than 500 pages long, hides data, that cannot be made public due to possible criminal investigations, as well as in order to comply with EU legislation on the protection of personal data. The interim report is being evaluated by the Chief Prosecutor and the legal officers of the Criminal Department to send it to the police to initiate a police investigation.

According to the report, over 13 years, 6,779 people have received «golden passports». Under President Thassos Papadopoulos, five people were granted citizenship, while 228 were granted citizenship under Dimitris Christofias. The vast majority of passports — 6,546 — were issued during the government of Nicos Anastasiades since 2013.