The Cyprus Attorney General, George Savvides, and Deputy Attorney General, Savvas Angelides, announced that they will abstain from evaluating or making decisions on the Independent Authority Against Corruption’s report on the book Mafia State. The Legal Service has assigned further handling of the case to a Prosecutorial Council to safeguard objective impartiality.
In a statement, the Attorney General said he contacted Transparency Commissioner Charis Poyiatzi to learn when the Authority intended to send the full report and its appendices to the Legal Service, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions. The commissioner informed him that the documents could not be delivered before the upcoming Monday.
In light of the situation and the public interest in the matter, the Legal Service decided to announce its decisions without waiting for the report’s submission.
Savvides said he would abstain from any assessment or decision regarding the report due to his personal relationship and friendship with former President Nicos Anastasiades and to ensure impartiality in handling the matter.
Deputy Attorney General Angelides also announced his recusal to maintain objective impartiality in evaluating and deciding on the report.
The Director of Criminal Law at the Legal Service, Elena Kleopa, will abstain from the process as she had been called as a witness before the Authority inspectors on one aspect of the case.
Following these decisions, the Attorney General convened an extraordinary Prosecutorial Council, composed of the senior officials of the Legal Service. The council was tasked with evaluating and handling the report upon its receipt from the Independent Authority Against Corruption and with taking any further measures or decisions as necessary.
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