Greek Cypriot revokes honorary citizenship of US Sen. Menendez

Baf Municipality of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus has revoked the honorary citizenship and the golden key of the city previously awarded to U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who has been found guilty of corruption and bribery charges by a jury in his home country.

According to reports from the Greek Cypriot press, the Baf Municipal Council, led by Mayor Phaidonas Phaidonos, unanimously decided to cancel the honors given to Menendez in 2022 during a council meeting on Wednesday.

The decision to rescind the honorary citizenship and the golden key was influenced by the jury’s verdict in Menendez’s corruption trial, which found him guilty of all charges.

The Baf Municipality initially awarded these honors to New Jersey Sen. Menendez in recognition of his “efforts to defend, promote, and respect the principles of international law, independence, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.”

Menendez, the former chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was found guilty by a jury of 16 charges, including bribery, obstructing justice by pressuring investigations and engaging in activities on behalf of a foreign country.