A police officer seconded to the Cyprus Intelligence Service (CIS) has been transferred to the Aliens and Immigration Service following the public revelation of her identity and role in a complaint to Parliament’s Human Rights Committee.
The officer left the CIS after her identity was disclosed publicly, according to information obtained by Phileleftheros, and has taken up a new position with the Police Immigration and Aliens Service.
The development follows a complaint filed on Monday by lawyer Alekos Argyrou on behalf of his client Nikoletta Androu-Tsikkini to Human Rights Committee chairwoman Irene Charalambidou, alleging threats from the officer.
Complaint details social media dispute
In the letter made public by the lawyer, the complaint states that on 19 August 2025, Tsikkini received a threatening message from a police member “making a public comment on my client’s social media post”. The complaint identified the police member as serving with the Cyprus Intelligence Service.
The allegations against the female officer had gained traction on social media in recent days. Tsikkini, who uses social media accounts to criticise officials, revealed the officer’s name and exact role in a post on Wednesday, 20 August, also publishing a photograph of the officer with her husband.
Additionally, Tsikkini claimed the officer had written the following under one of her posts: “Shut up before I start airing your dirty laundry in public”.
Legal protection for intelligence personnel
The officer’s transfer relates to the protection regime governing the identity of police members serving with the CIS. Article of the Cyprus Intelligence Service Law, titled “Protection of the service status of CIS personnel members”, makes revealing the identity of CIS staff a criminal offence.
The relevant provision states: “Regardless of the provisions of this Law or any other law, confidentiality is maintained regarding the service status of CIS personnel members. It is understood that publication or disclosure in any way of the identity of a CIS personnel member is prohibited, as well as the content or part of the content of any judicial decision that includes reference to their name or identity and/or duties as a CIS personnel member, for purposes of ensuring national and public security and maintaining security rules for CIS personnel members”.
Criminal penalties for disclosure
The law further stipulates that CIS procedures and decisions regarding the administrative status of personnel are not published, and allows the Director to issue internal regulations on security rules for staff members.
Any person violating these provisions commits a criminal offence and upon conviction faces imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding €150,000, or both penalties.
