Former Cypriot judge Doria Varoshiotou has announced plans to appeal her dismissal after the judicial council ruled she was unfit to serve as a tenured judge, particularly criticising her handling of the high-profile case of Cypriot Australian national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou.
In May 2024, Varoshiotou overturned a long-standing suicide verdict, concluding that Nicolaou – a young conscript who died in 2005 – had been strangled as a result of “criminal activity.”
Her ruling sparked public interest and controversy, especially after she barred former state pathologist Panikos Stavrianos from testifying. Although the Supreme Court later found this to be a legal error, it did not overturn her ruling in full.
The judicial council, in a detailed decision dated 30 June, cited “deficient legal skills and perception of the law” as key reasons for her dismissal, along with her conduct during and after the case.
It also referenced her written reaction to criticism from a senior judge, suggesting she had implied attempts were made to influence her decision. Varoshiotou further accused the judicial council and the Supreme Court of being biased and vindictive.
Her lawyer, Achilleas Demetriades, made the judicial council’s decision public on Thursday, stating it was in the public interest. He confirmed an appeal is being prepared and that no further public comment will be made at this stage.
If upheld, the decision ends Varoshiotou’s judicial career just as she was due to secure a permanent position at the Limassol district court.
Source: Cyprus Mail
