Cypriot journalist ignites major scandal with allegations of elite networks, corruption and pedophilia

On 31 March Makarios Drousiotis – a veteran reporter, author and parliamentary candidate for the pro-European Volt Cyprus party – published a social media post titled “Pedophilia, sell-offs, surveillance and rigged trials.” In it, he alleges the existence of a clandestine “Rosicrucian brotherhood” – a modern network of politicians, judges, lawyers and businesspeople – that allegedly exerts hidden control over key state institutions.

Drousiotis claims the group has been involved in corruption, the manipulation of trials, illegal surveillance and, most shockingly, pedophilia. He says he possesses supporting evidence, including text messages between high-level figures and audiovisual material, which he has cross-checked with a woman at the centre of the case whom he met in 2023.

Who is Makarios Drousiotis?

Drousiotis, 67, is no stranger to high-stakes confrontations with Cyprus’s political elite. A former advisor to ex-President Nicos Anastasiades (2013–2014), he later became one of the president’s fiercest critics. His books, including Mafia State and The Gang, have detailed alleged systemic corruption, links to Russian oligarchs and the abuse of power. He has also publicly claimed he was targeted with Pegasus spyware while investigating these issues.

Now running for parliament in the 24 May 2026 elections, Drousiotis insists his latest revelations serve the public interest and are backed by concrete documentation. He has stated he is ready to hand over the evidence to authorities — but only under conditions that guarantee an impartial investigation.

The core allegationsDrousiotis names several senior figures, accusing them of involvement in the alleged network:

Former President Nicos Anastasiades

Nicos Tornaritis, chairman of the House Legal Affairs Committee

Former MEP Demetris Papadakis

Attorney General Giorgos Savvides

Assistant Attorney General Savvas Angelides

EDEK parliamentary candidate Morfakis Solomonides

Former Supreme Court judge Michalakis Christodoulou

The claims against Christodoulou are particularly grave. They centre on a woman referred to as “Sandy,” whom the judge admits knowing between 2020 and 2021 and describes as having received fatherly support. Christodoulou has categorically denied any sexual misconduct or rape allegations, calling them “morbid fantasies,” “fabrications” and “slander.” He has offered to provide his phone and undergo DNA testing.

Drousiotis further alleges that aspects of these claims – including threats to the woman at the centre – have been known in Cypriot legal circles for at least four to five years, with some lawyers seeing evidence as early as 2022.

Immediate fallout and official response

The allegations have triggered a criminal investigation ordered by Police Chief Themis Arnaoutis. Police have contacted Drousiotis and asked him to submit his material promptly. President Nikos Christodoulides has described the claims as “serious” and said they are being treated with “the utmost seriousness,” emphasising his role as “guardian of the Constitution” and the potential consequences for democracy in Cyprus and Europe.

Several named individuals have rejected the accusations outright. Some, including Papadakis, have voluntarily submitted devices for forensic analysis. Christodoulou has announced he and his family will file complaints over what he calls false information.

Political reactions have been sharp. The ruling DISY party has warned against “mudslinging and slander for political or election exploitation.” Opposition voices and some legal figures have called for an independent investigation – possibly involving foreign experts – citing deep public distrust in local institutions. One prominent criminal lawyer described the justice system as appearing to “collapse before citizens’ eyes.”

Drousiotis himself has expressed reservations about a purely police-led probe, telling the president he awaits a decision on whether an independent criminal investigator (or foreign team) will be appointed to avoid any perception of a cover-up.

Why this matters far beyond Cyprus

Cyprus is an EU member state and currently assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. Allegations of a secret elite network undermining the judiciary, attorney general’s office and political leadership strike directly at the heart of the rule of law – a core EU value. The claims come against a backdrop of previous scandals: the Cyprus Confidential leaks on golden passports, banking crisis fallout and longstanding concerns over political influence over justice.

For ordinary Cypriots, the story raises fundamental questions about trust. If even a fraction of the allegations proves true, it would point to systemic capture of institutions by opaque networks. Even if ultimately disproven, the episode exposes a dangerous erosion of public confidence – especially when similar claims have reportedly circulated quietly among lawyers for years without action.

The timing, just weeks before parliamentary elections, adds a layer of political volatility. Yet the underlying issues – transparency, accountability and the integrity of democratic institutions – transcend any election cycle.

Drousiotis has repeatedly said he will cooperate with any credible investigation. The coming days will be decisive: whether the evidence is thoroughly and impartially examined, or whether the case becomes another chapter in Cyprus’s long-running battle between investigative journalism and institutional resistance.

The latest of a series of articles on this topic by EUalive’s partner Politic can be found here.

Caption: Makarios Drousiotis, photo from his Xaccount @makdrou