This week the Cypriot parliament announced that it was ending the citizenship program by investment after an undercover investigation by Aljazeera journalists appeared to show politicians helping to arrange a citizenship for a fictitious businessman, despite being told he had a criminal record.

One of those lawmakers, Mr. Demetris Syllouris, the president of Cypriot Parliament and the country’s second-most powerful official, resigned on Thursday. The other, Christakis Giovanis, resigned on Tuesday, and both men have denied any unlawful activity.