Parliament Speaker Annita Demetriou has called for constitutional amendments and institutional reforms following the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) condemnation of Cyprus over the handling of an alleged rape case against a politician involving gender discrimination in the justice system.
On Monday, Demetriou, who also serves as DISY party president, stated the prosecution suspension decision criticised by the ECHR was wrong. She acknowledged this was not the first time the European Court had condemned Cyprus for its behaviour against women.
The ECHR ruling on 3 July found Cyprus violated human rights in handling rape allegations against a former DISY municipal councillor, who withdrew his parliamentary candidacy in 2021 when the accusations became public. The court awarded complainant N.T. €35,470 compensation after finding serious procedural flaws.
The case originated in April 2021 when N.T. reported being raped by the man in January 2011 when she was 18 years old. Police launched an investigation and the case proceeded to criminal court before Assistant Attorney General Savvas Angelides suspended prosecution in late 2021.
The ECHR found authorities failed to assess consent properly and exposed the complainant to “secondary victimisation through incrimination and sexist standards,” according to the Law Office’s own statement on the ruling.
“We need institutional changes: termination of the uncontrolled Law Office, separation of Legal Adviser from Public Prosecutor,” Demetriou said in a statement issued “as Parliament Speaker, party leader and a woman in public life”.
Transparency and accountability demanded
The Speaker emphasised institutions must communicate decisions to citizens and explain reasoning with transparency as a prerequisite for trust and accountability.
Demetriou said the ECHR ruling revealed “something deeper: the existence of gender stereotypes that lead to discrimination against women” which she described as reality rather than theory.
She called for continued progress through cooperation and clear positions, rejecting “populism” and “instrumentalisation of women for political purposes.”
Constitutional reform
The Parliament Speaker personally committed to advancing constitutional amendments “as soon as possible” where needed. She stated progress requires “more transparency, more accountability, more communication with citizens.”
Demetriou acknowledged advances have been made but indicated Cyprus has not yet reached desired standards on gender equality issues.
The statement comes amid mounting political pressure following the ECHR’s July ruling that found Cyprus violated human rights through sexist handling of rape allegations against a politician. The court awarded the complainant €35,470 compensation.
Opposition parties have demanded Assistant Attorney General Savvas Angelides resign over his role in suspending the prosecution, whilst the complainant published an open letter calling for his resignation and presidential intervention.
Ως Πρόεδρος της Βουλής, ως Πρόεδρος του Δημοκρατικού Συναγερμού και ως γυναίκα στη δημόσια ζωή, νιώθω αγωνία και θυμό, για όσα πλήττουν την εμπιστοσύνη στους θεσμούς και τη Δικαιοσύνη.
— Annita Demetriou (@AnnitaDemetriou) July 7, 2025
Η απόφαση για αναστολή της ποινικής δίωξης, σε υπόθεση που κατέδειξε το ΕΔΑΔ, ήταν λανθασμένη.… pic.twitter.com/Gf88ShGWxD
Previous ECHR condemnation
The ruling represents the second time in 2025 that the ECHR has condemned Cyprus over handling of alleged rape cases. In February, the court found violations in the 2019 Ayia Napa case involving a British teenager who retracted gang-rape allegations against Israeli tourists after police questioning without legal representation.
The ECHR found Cyprus exhibited “certain biases concerning women” that prevented effective protection of women’s rights as complainants in gender-based violence cases.
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