Suspended Paphos mayor rejects rape allegations

The trial in the case of suspended Paphos mayor Fedon Fedoros, recorded at the hearing on June 24, 2026, has moved into a stage of intense legal confrontation. The politician formally rejected all five charges, including rape and assault causing bodily harm. The case, based on events from 2014, is being heard by a new bench chaired by Lia Markou. For now, Fedoros remains free on bail of 100,000 euros, but his political status has already been terminated: Article 113 of the Municipalities Law automatically suspended him from office back in February because of the severity of the potential sentence.

The prosecution’s main vulnerability in this case is the twelve-year time gap between the alleged crime and the filing of the police complaint. In cases of this kind, physical evidence and forensic findings are completely absent after so many years. The prosecution will have to build its case solely on the testimony of the complainant and circumstantial evidence. That is why prosecutor Irini Savva insists on a closed trial, seeking to protect the victim’s identity and shield her from pressure. The defense, represented by Christos Purgouridis, which had initially planned to object, agreed to consider the matter without the press, understanding that a closed format also minimizes reputational damage for Fedoros himself.

The constitutional right to an open trial in Cyprus is not absolute, and Judge Lia Markou will announce the decision on the format of the hearings on July 16. The hearings on the merits themselves are scheduled on the tightest possible timetable — five consecutive days, from July 27 to 31. If the court keeps the proceedings open, Paphos will face a high-profile media spectacle, where the defense will methodically attack the complainant’s motives for coming forward so late, alleging a political setup. If the trial is closed, the outcome will be decided by a pure legal duel, where, in the absence of firm evidence, the prosecution will have extremely shaky prospects for a conviction.