Shadows, not for the first time, are created by the activity of the law firm “Nicos Anastasiades”, which was founded by President Anastasiades and managed by his two daughters. As reported by the Guardian newspaper, there is a secret report according to which the Russian oligarch Leonid Lebendev, with the help of the law firm “Nicos Anastasiades”, concealed the ownership relationship with four offshore companies.
According to the complaint of the company Alcogal, the law firm “Nicos Anastasiades” presented as owners of the four companies employees of the office while the real owner is Leonid Lebendev. The allegedly misleading evidence appears to have been submitted to the British Virgin Islands authorities on June 8, 2015. Leonid Lebendev fled Russia in 2015 on charges of tax evasion, which he denies. Since then he has been active as a film producer in Hollywood.
President Anastasiades himself, in a statement to the Guardian, said that he has no knowledge and would not be able to respond to complaints concerning his former law firm. President admitted that he had a “cordial” personal relationship with Lebendev. It should be remembered that he had used L. Lebedev’s personal aircraft in 2013 for a trip to France, where he met with François Hollande.
According to the newspaper, questions arise as to whether it is wise for a President state to allow the operation of a law firm bearing his name, when he himself has neither the ability to supervise nor to control. The Guardian does not fail to note that Nicos Anastasiades and the law firm have had special relations with Lebendev in the past. In fact, in 2011 they had undertaken the naturalization process of Lebendev as a Cypriot citizen, within the framework of the “golden passports” program. The naturalization had been approved by the cabinet of former President Demetris Christofias. The data for the four companies emerged from the Pandora Papers leak.
