The Cyprus Bar Association is staging a protest due to the collapse of the e-justice system.
As stated in a relevant announcement, the “situation that has arisen over the past week, with the implementation of a system with unreliable procedures that tend to create unforeseen risks, shakes the trust in the institution of justice on a daily basis, ultimately affecting the operation of the rule of law.”
The protest gathering, lasting one hour, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, will also take place next Friday, January 26, 2024, outside the main entrance of the District Courts.
The lawyers stated in their announcement:
“Following the announcement of the Cyprus Bar Association on January 18, 2024, regarding the collapse of the e-justice system, the Council of the Bar Association, during its session on January 22, 2024, expressed its continuing and increasing disappointment due to the insurmountable problems accumulated by the inadequacy of e-justice, resulting in obstructing access to justice, unanimously decided on the following:
We request to ensure immediate access to justice for professionals and citizens.
We request the delivery of a complete and functional platform for real access to justice.
We request clear instructions to the competent registries for the possibility of at least physical registrations until the delivery of a complete electronic functional platform, to ensure, even temporarily, smooth citizen access to justice.
The situation created a week ago with the implementation of a system with unreliable procedures that tend to create unforeseen risks shakes the trust in the institution of justice on a daily basis, and ultimately affects the operation of the rule of law.
As a result, we call on our members to:
Participate in a protest tomorrow, Wednesday, January 24, outside the House of Representatives at 10:00 am until 11:00 am, where the issue of the e-justice operation will be presented to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs.
A protest gathering lasting one hour from 10:30 am to 11:30 am will also take place next Friday, January 26, outside the main entrance of the District Courts.
We reiterate and request that the necessary measures be taken immediately, without further delay, with the sole aim of the speedy implementation of a secure and effective electronic justice system.
It should be noted with dismay that despite the efforts and mobilizations of the Cyprus Bar Association and promises from all relevant authorities, there has been no substantial improvement in restoring the system’s operation.
It must be made clear again that ensuring uninterrupted and unobstructed access to justice is the utmost responsibility and duty of the state. The Cyprus Bar Association bears no responsibility for the design and implementation of the system. While the quality of justice is affected, which is a fundamental prerequisite in a civilized state, the responsible state authorities cannot and should not remain indifferent.”
