Two healthcare workers lied about postgraduate education in Gomel

The Cyprus Disciplinary Council of Doctors unanimously decided to revoke the right to practice medicine for six years for two medical professionals: Alevtina Kuzicheva-Marku and Viktoria Kuzicheva-Hristodulu. The decision took effect on June 22, 2026. This extraordinary punishment is linked to a serious breach of professional ethics.

The essence of the violation:
During the proceedings, it was established that the medical professionals submitted knowingly false information to the Cyprus Medical Council in order to obtain mandatory certification:
— Falsification of qualifications. The women submitted documents claiming they had completed continuous four-year postgraduate training at the Gomel State Medical University (Belarus).
— Purpose of the scheme. Based on the inaccurate data, they obtained unlawful recognition of their specialization, which allowed them to register in Cyprus as specialist doctors. According to the council, they were fully aware that the submitted information was fictitious.

Risk assessment and the council's position:
The disciplinary body classified the misconduct as serious, since the deliberate deception directly affected the basic principles of the medical personnel verification system. The unlawful obtaining of specialization created potential and direct risks to patient safety, which ruled out closing the case without strict administrative sanctions.

Mitigating factors and financial penalties:
When determining the length of the suspension, the council took several aspects into account:
— Neither woman had any prior criminal convictions or disciplinary sanctions.
— They appeared before the Disciplinary Council for the first time.
— The authenticity of their basic medical degrees was not disputed.

Nevertheless, given the scale of the falsification, the council deemed a six-year ban on practice (until June 22, 2032) a proportionate punishment. In addition, Alevtina and Viktoria Kuzicheva are required to fully reimburse the costs of the case: €4,500 (plus VAT) for legal services and €980 for stenographers' work.

For reference: The Cyprus Medical Council is the supreme competent authority for licensing doctors in the republic. Since 2021, the body has significantly tightened the initial verification of the authenticity of diplomas issued by educational institutions outside the European Union.