The Attorney General of the Republic, Giorgos Savvides, asserted on Wednesday that he is not engaged in any conflict with individuals and has never instigated confrontations.
Following the inauguration of new Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Commissioners at the Presidential Palace, Savvides expressed appreciation for the decision of the Anti-Corruption Authority, which absolved the Assistant Attorney General of any criminal charges for abuse of power allegations.
When questioned by reporters about the ongoing dispute with the Auditor General of the Republic, he refrained from making any statements on the matter.
Stressing that he harbours no conflicts, he stated, “Observers can discern the origins of disputes and witness our efforts to refrain from responding as much as possible.”
Savvides also urged the Parliament to expedite the enactment of legislation ensuring the autonomy of the Law Office of the Republic, thereby concluding Cyprus’ adherence to the only outstanding recommendation from GRECO.
Commenting on GRECO’s assessment report from the previous day, he highlighted its significance in confirming the resolution of the sole outstanding recommendation regarding the autonomy of public prosecutors, transforming it from non-compliance to partial compliance.
Taking into account the draft law for the autonomy of the Law Office currently before Parliament, GRECO acknowledged and welcomed its presence. Savvides suggested that with some potential minor improvements or refinements, it could be further enhanced.
Concluding the latest evaluation round, Savvides appealed to all Cypriot authorities to proceed swiftly with the enactment of the pending legislation in Parliament.
The 2023 EU Rule of Law Report urged Cyprus to strengthen the independence and accountability of its public prosecutors, including by providing for a possibility of review of the decision of the Attorney General not to prosecute or to discontinue proceedings.
Read more:
