Cypriot Administrative Court revokes citizenship stripping of investor Anubhav Aggarwal

On April 27, 2026, Judge Ariadni Zervou of the Administrative Court of Cyprus issued a significant ruling in case 1247/2024, canceling the government's decision to revoke the citizenship of businessman Anubhav Aggarwal. Aggarwal had obtained Cypriot citizenship in 2016 through the investor program, followed by his spouse and child. Following the 2021 Nicolatos Committee report on irregular naturalizations, the Council of Ministers moved to strip his status, but the Court found this process procedurally flawed. Judge Zervou ruled that the state failed to conduct a proper investigation, lacked sufficient justification, and violated the principle of proportionality. The court noted that the Nicolatos Committee had originally only recommended reviewing the possibility of revocation, not ordering it directly. Represented by lawyer Simos Aggelidis, the plaintiff successfully argued that the state acted with error and insufficient evidence. This decision highlights the legal challenges Cyprus faces in retroactively revoking naturalizations granted under the former investment program. The ruling confirms that the executive branch must adhere to strict legal standards rather than acting summarily based on initial committee recommendations.