- Thousands of Cypriots and journalists join the family’s efforts to find the truth about the death of the young Aussie-Cypriot soldier, and demand that the findings of the investigation be made public
A gruesome murder has been revealed 17 years after the death of 26-year-old Cypriot-Australian Thanasis Nicolaou, following a new report finding that was handed over to the Attorney-General of Cyprus last week. The report gives detailed accounts of what happened on the fateful morning of 29 September 2005 when Mr Nicolaou was found dead under the bridge of Alassa in Cyprus while serving his military service.
Neos Kosmos has followed this case for years, highlighting the incredible perseverance of his mother, Andriana Nicolaou who has never given up trying to prove that her son did not commit suicide, as the authorities claimed at the time.
Her 17 years of perseverance and struggle have been vindicated, despite the enormous obstacles she faced in her effort to unravel the dark veil that, as she had said, ‘the police, the prosecutor, the coroner and the officers of the Cypriot army have thrown over the case of my child’s murder so that those responsible for his death will never be held accountable’.
“After 17 years I have been vindicated”, said Andriana Nicolaou, speaking to Neos Kosmos from Cyprus. “My child did not fall off the bridge, which was already evident when his remains were exhumed and examined. My struggle has been vindicated… I was mocked for so many years… But justice for my son’s death has not been served, yet.”
Yet another obstacle
The courageous mother is facing yet another obstacle as the Attorney-General, George Savvidis, is not responding to her pleas to hand her the report which was conducted by independent criminal investigators Savvas Matsas and Antonis Alexopoulos. The 92-page report contains shocking and irrefutable evidence that the 26-year-old man who grew up in Melbourne was murdered on a beach by strangulation, and in no way was it a suicide as the authorities claimed when he was found dead.
In the report they recommend the prosecution of three officers who held key positions in the Limassol Police for negligence of duty, and they identify criminal responsibility to three police officers who allegedly handled the case incompetently, and one civilian. The findings even include the names of the possible perpetrators of the murder.
An ultimatum to the Attorney-General
On Wednesday, the family’s lawyer, Loukis Loukaidis, sent a third letter, and an ultimatum, to the Attorney-General, George Savvidis, reminding him of his legal responsibility to deliver a copy of the criminal investigation to the victim’s family within the next 10 days. As the Cyrpiot newspaper Filelftheros explains, Loukaidis warns of legal action if the request is not granted.
After all she has been through, Adriana Nicolaou remains vigilant and distrustful. She told Neos Kosmos that she will not allow the same people who have handled the case throughout the years, to be allowed to examine and make decisions on the findings. “There are many things we need to prevent,” she said, afraid that a cover-up will be attempted.
“If I had even the slightest doubt about how my son died, I would never have started this fight for justice,” Ms Nicolaou said.
“To continue to fight is my sacred duty as a mother, not only for my child, but for society and for my other children. The criminals have now married and raised families and live freely and I am still fighting. I have dedicated my life to this cause. I have three other children, but most of the time my mind is elsewhere and my heart is elsewhere,” Ms. Nicolaou said with deep emotion, but also with faith that the truth will be revealed.
“It’s all about patience and perseverance. Not to hurry, but not to let go either. And everything will be revealed in due course,” Ms Nicolaou said to Neos Kosmos.
Ms Nicolaou has shown enormous perseverance, especially in the face of her own serious health issues, which she has now managed to overcome.
It took ten years for the case to be heard at the European Court of Human Rights. “We started in 2010, and in 2020, The European Court condemned the Republic of Cyprus for failing to examine the case properly,” Ms Nicolou said.
“In Australia they offer up to a million dollars to encourage people to come forward so they can find the perpetrator, while here I have been fighting corruption on my own trying to prove that my child didn’t fall. People don’t talk here. When they see something they keep silent,” a determined Ms Nicolaou said.
“I have a lot of faith in God and that is where I get my strength from. I spent thirty-three long years away from Cyprus, and when I came back they killed my child who was so passionate about settling here and serving in the army,” Ms Nicolaou told Neos Kosmos.
Thousands of Cypriots and journalists have now joined the family’s efforts to find the truth about the death of the young Aussie-Cypriot soldier, and are demanding that the findings of the investigation be made public.
In an article published by Filelftheros, the Attorney-General is reminded of what he had promised when he appointed the criminal investigators to prepare a report on the circumstances that led to the death of Thanasis Nicolaou. “With respect to the memory of this man, we should try to shed light on the circumstances of his death, whatever they may be, and help find the truth, whatever it may be, so that both the family and the state feel that there is a clear conclusion to this tragic case,” George Savvidis had said.
“Release the report to the Public”
There are three things that the community of Cyprus is now demanding, according to Fileleftheros.
Firstly, to release the findings of the investigation to the public, and especially to the victim’s family who have been struggling for 17 years to shed light on what happened to their son.
Secondly, to put to the stand the people that the report points to, for criminal negligence in performing their duties during the investigation into Thanasis Nicolaou’s death.
And thirdly, to find Thanasis’ murderers.
On Sunday, the 17th annual memorial service for Thanasis Nicolaou will be held at the Metropolitan Church of Panagia Pantanasi Catholicis in Limassol, and the “Friends of Thanasi”, a Facebook Group with thousands of members, wants to turn the memorial service into a protest, demanding in unison that justice is served.
“It is the least we can do as an apology to his mother who we left to fight alone for justice for so long,” a statement on the group says.
As previously reported by Neos Kosmos, Thanasis Nicolaou, grew up in Melbourne, and after completing his studies, he decided in 2003 to settle in his country of origin, Cyprus, and serve the 6-month service in the army. After 33 years in Australia, his parents along with their other children decided to follow him and settle permanently in Cyprus.
Thanasis began his service on July 12, 2005, but, as his mother had mentioned, things were not easy for the “Aussie soldier” of the National Guard. “He was bullied and harassed by the other soldiers,” Andriani said of the events that occurred before her child was found dead. A few days before his death, he filed a complaint to the officers in charge. The day before he died, he also met with the chief of staff. On the morning of September 29, the day after his ‘discussion’ with the Chief of Staff, Thanasis, troubled but hopeful that he would be supported, said goodbye to his parents and set off to report to his base at 7am after an overnight stay at home. He never arrived at the military camp.
“Without the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators and instigators there is neither vindication nor justice for the death of my child,” Adriana Nicolaou said.