Justice minister Costas Fitiris confirmed that he had received a letter on Tuesday from Ioanna Photiou, widely known as Annie Alexui, requesting guidance on how to officially proceed with a deposition concerning her allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Speaking on Alpha TV, Fitiris said that specific instructions for the next steps are expected to be provided shortly.

“She asks to know how she can inform the authorities about some things that happened in the past,” Fitiris said.

“Receipt of the letter has been confirmed. Tomorrow she will receive an answer on what she should do.”

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He added that from the outset, Photiou had been offered three ways to submit her complaints, designed to secure her cooperation while respecting legal procedures.

Authorities are seeking to obtain a formal statement from Photiou regarding public allegations she made against senior police officers, state officials, and figures she has linked to organised crime.

Fitiris stressed that investigations cannot be conducted through social media posts alone and that written statements and testimonies are required to substantiate any claims.

“Some actions are already being taken. The case cannot be substantiated through social media,” he said.

“The essence is to take her testimony and the evidence she claims to hold and to investigate, with the appropriate procedures, what she alleges, whether it concerns herself or other serious matters.”

Photiou is currently believed to be in Russia, where she has claimed to have been granted asylum.

Authorities are reportedly exploring international mechanisms that would allow her to give a statement from abroad, either through Russian law enforcement officials or via a written statement prepared by Cypriot investigators.

Any evidence she claims to possess, including recordings, documents, or videos, could also be submitted through these official channels.

In regard to the three outlined options offered to Photiou the first would be a direct statement to the Cypriot police, which she has declined due to outstanding arrest warrants.

The second involves giving a statement outside Cyprus to a team sent by Cypriot authorities, though logistical details remain uncertain.

The third option allows her to submit a statement through a lawyer she trusts in Cyprus, with copies retained for official records and the investigation process formally initiated.

“If she wishes, through a lawyer whom she trusts, to hand over the information, even to me, here, with transparency, and for copies to be retained, and for the handing over and receipt of information to happen, with a report signed by her, that is a choice,” Fitiris previously assured.

Photiou has publicly claimed to possess recordings of conversations with police officers and has alleged mistreatment during past attempts to give testimony.

Among the figures she has named is deputy police-chief Michalis Katsounotos, as well as other senior officials, while she has also linked allegations to high-profile cases, including the unresolved 2012 road death of Andreas Loizou.

Fitiris emphasised that the authorities are not dismissing her claims outright, nor are they accepted at face value.

“No one can say that everything she says is a lie, nor that it is true,” he said.

“Names may be mentioned for which no case has been established.”