The Board of the Union of Cyprus Journalists has condemned a growing pattern of government and state officials refusing to answer press questions, warning that transparency, public information and critical scrutiny of public affairs are all being undermined as a result.
The Union singled out two specific incidents. On April 16, Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis called journalists for a press statement but refused to answer their questions.
Then, after the Council of Ministers session on April 21, journalists waited in vain — no official made any statement.
The Board noted this may have been the first time this has occurred after a cabinet meeting, and pointed out that the session in question was the one at which the government decided to invite the FBI to assist in the Sandy case investigation — a decision that would have invited significant press scrutiny.
The Sandy case centres on allegations made public by journalist Makarios Drousiotis involving claims of corruption and links between senior political, judicial and financial figures. President Christodoulides has announced that the FBI will help analyse statements and evidence collected in the investigation.
The Union’s Board said journalists have a duty to ask questions and officials have an obligation to answer them. Both operate in the public sphere and are judged accordingly — journalists on the quality of their questions, officials on the substance of their answers.
Officials should understand that journalists are not simply statement recorders, the Union said. Journalists investigate, question, seek out information, challenge and frequently dissent — acting on behalf of the public and in the public interest.
The right to submit press questions, the union said, is non-negotiable.
