giannis andreou — Key witness Giannis Andreou is testifying today in the retrial of Giorgos Christodoulou-Zavrantonas, who stands accused of possessing 15 kilos of cocaine with intent to supply. The Permanent Assize Court of Nicosia is hearing the case, with Andreou providing crucial evidence that led to Zavrantonas’s original conviction.
In December 2022, Zavrantonas was sentenced to 22 years in prison based on Andreou’s testimony. However, this conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal on May 11, 2026, due to issues surrounding the composition of the Assize Court that initially heard the case.
The case dates back to January 2019, when the Anti-Drugs Unit discovered the cocaine in Lakatamia. Andreou, also known as ‘Maronas’, alongside Aristos Kyprianou, was initially convicted in July 2019. Andreou received a 16-year sentence while Kyprianou was sentenced to 8 years.
Following his conviction, Andreou provided new testimony implicating Zavrantonas as the mastermind behind the drug operation. This revelation led to fresh charges against Zavrantonas, culminating in his conviction. However, the appeal process resulted in the overturning of this ruling earlier this year.
During the ongoing retrial, Zavrantonas’s defence lawyer, Christos Poutziouris, has raised concerns about Andreou’s inclusion in a witness protection programme. According to Poutziouris, Andreou was released from his 16-year sentence in early 2023 under a presidential pardon, with conditions preventing his return to Cyprus for a specified duration. The lawyer alleged that Andreou violated these conditions and has been implicated in a violent incident involving a grenade and gunfire at a businessman’s premises.
The current hearing is presided over by a panel of judges, including Lefteris Pantelis, President of the District Court, Marilena Theoklitou, Senior District Judge, and Konstantinos Markos Pasiardis, District Judge. The outcome of Andreou’s testimony today is expected to significantly influence the proceedings and the fate of Zavrantonas.
