Filenews 25 January 2026 - by Andreas Kapardis
The recent video about the mess of the Cypriot State and society that certainly ridiculed us internationally and caused the anger of many has puzzled many and raises the question: "What will happen?" Because every society reflects its history and has the politicians it deserves, in order to effectively fight the corruption that plagues it, it cannot be done overnight. However, where there is a will, there are ways.
A good antidote to corruption is integrity, both in personal and professional life. But what exactly does this important word refer to? We hear people say about someone that: "He is known for his integrity" or that "I do not question the integrity of his character". " and we have in mind a person with strong moral principles and values, honest and trustworthy, whose behaviour is consistent with his beliefs, a person trustworthy, with moral integrity. In other words, integrity is adherence to principles. Also, there is often talk of "corporate integrity and moral values" as well as data integrity, territorial integrity, physical integrity and mental integrity.
The virtue of integrity also promotes happiness, positive self-esteem, self-confidence. If we want to shield our children and adolescents against dangerous behaviours, we do well to invest in integrity through education, helping them learn to take responsibility for their actions, helping them learn to take responsibility for their actions by motivating them to social action, so that we have reliable citizens in the future, free from corruption and hypocrisy.
Integrity is a fundamental principle of the FBI. Something that is not widely known is that the initials of the service are from the words Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity, Courage, Integrity and are the motto and values of the service. It is also noteworthy that an important part of this famous agency is the Office of Integrity and Compliance, which the FBI itself established in 2007 to ensure its own institutional integrity. The mission of this office is to ensure ethical behaviour, adherence to the law, and the prevention of abuse, with a focus on accountability and trust in a time of many challenges. The FBI actively fights corruption and works to maintain its reputation for honesty and impartiality, aiming to balance its independence with its role within the Department of Justice.
In practice, the Office of Integrity and Compliance creates and implements programs to establish respect for and compliance with the laws. The FBI's mission includes investigating public corruption, laws that directly threaten the integrity of the government, using complex operations and cooperation with other agencies. The same office emphasizes ethical leadership and the responsibility of all employees to report inappropriate behaviour, fostering an environment where doing the right thing is more valuable than fear. Employees are expected to demonstrate critical evaluation, problem-solving, risk management, and accountability, all grounded in ethical decision-making.
Of major importance to the FBI is the public's trust in it. In this context, it seeks to maintain public trust through transparent, principles-based actions, particularly with regard to sensitive investigations. It proposes such reforms for its own detailed internal and external control to protect itself against the abuse of power and its services, party influences and that whistleblowers are treated fairly and fairly. In order to achieve their mission, agents are very carefully selected to be characterized by personal moral values and thus they are capable and act with integrity.
It is generally accepted that the following characterize FBI special agents: collaboration, communication, flexibility, interpersonal skills, initiative, leadership skills, organizationality, and planning.
The top personality traits of special agents are conscientiousness and extroversion. Expert agents score high on conscientiousness, which means they are methodical, reliable, and generally plan things ahead. With respect for and guided by the U.S. Constitution, FBI agents are characterized by fairness, compassion, honesty, integrity, and respect.
In conclusion, Cyprus with the consolidation of integrity has a lot to benefit from if it establishes the FBI as a model, undoubtedly one of the most effective anti-crime and corruption agencies, a place where the best and brightest in the industry want to work. It is an effective law enforcement agency due to its structure, history, technology, and talented professionals that will surely continue to grow and evolve.
*Andreas Kapardis Ph.D (Camb.) is Professor Emeritus, Department of Law, University of Cyprus – Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts – Honorary Professor of Research, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge – Life Fellow, Clare Hall, University of Cambridge – Member of the European Association of Emeritus Professors.
