Assistant Attorney General Savvas Angelides has denied ever submitting a resignation to the president, breaking his silence after four days following public debate sparked by a newspaper report.
“I have never submitted a resignation to the President of the Republic,” Angelides said in a written statement.
The issue began with a behind-the-scenes report published in Politis newspaper which referred to a resignation submission. Angelides admitted there had been thoughts and intentions to resign, but clarified he did not follow through due to the reaction and concerns of his colleagues at the Law Office.
He candidly stated that information about threats against him and his family had been assessed in the past and managed accordingly by the competent authorities.
However, he never raised the issue of leaving for that reason, he said. He appealed for respect from everyone on this very sensitive matter.
Angelides also stressed he never expressed the view that there is corruption in the police and that this would ever constitute a reason for his resignation, as has been erroneously presented.
Regarding complaints against him before the Anti-Corruption Authority, Angelides said he is not permitted to comment publicly on the delay and procedure, as he is a directly affected person.
However, he warned that his tolerance regarding the non-completion of investigations within a reasonable time should not be taken as acceptance of a situation that undermines the foundations of the rule of law.
He said the situation should concern everyone and expressed hope that the Law Office would be allowed to continue working unhindered to safeguard the interests of the state.