Former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides has filed an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over his dismissal.
During an interview with state broadcaster CyBC, Michaelides revealed he is being represented by the same legal team that handled his Supreme Court case: Christos Clerides, Pambos Ioannides and Joe Triantafyllides.
The appeal centres on alleged violations of ECHR Article 6, concerning the right to a fair trial, and Article 10, regarding freedom of expression. Michaelides claims there were conflicts of interest in the court’s composition and argues the tribunal was biased and hostile.
He drew parallels between his case and that of Laura Codruţa Kövesi, the former head of Romania’s Anti-Corruption Authority, who was similarly dismissed but won her ECHR case within 18 months. Kövesi now serves as head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“We have submitted a request for expedited proceedings and are awaiting a response”, Michaelides said, noting that while such cases typically take three years, they could be fast-tracked as an “impact case”.
Addressing his political aspirations, Michaelides ruled out running in the 2026 parliamentary elections with any existing party. However, he expressed interest in forming a citizens’ movement, potentially named “Voice of Justice”, with aims to contest the 2028 presidential elections.
“We need to change this state and its institutions – not for moral reasons, but for the real prosperity of citizens”, he said, adding that one-fifth of Cypriots live below the poverty line despite the country’s economic upgrades.
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