Maria Efimova announced earlier this afternoon that her husband, detained since yesterday by the police in Greece, has since been released without charge.

Speaking to this website, Maria Efimova said the Greek prosecution service agreed that Cyprus’s request for her husband’s extradition had no legal basis.

Cyprus asked for Pantelis Varnava’s extradition the first time when the country was also demanding Maria Efimova is sent to Cyprus to answer for complaints filed by her former employer a Russian-owned fragrance retailer.

At the time Greece ignored Cyprus’s request for extradition processing instead a simultaneous request from Malta, which Maria Efimova contested and the Greek courts quashed.

This website is informed the Greek prosecution service has asked for further documentation ahead of a court hearing on the matter. However, Pantelis Varanava’s release ahead of an extradition hearing is a significant sign that Greek prosecutors do not consider Cyprus’s case against Pantelis Varnava as serious.