The Cyprus Journalists’ Union has labelled a warning issued by the Republic’s Attorney General, George Savvides against Phileleftheros as a “direct threat to the journalistic community”.
In his statement, Savvides stressed that the leakage of classified documents is a criminal offence, punishable by up to seven years in prison.
He was referring to the publication of a story by the newspaper regarding the alleged scandal surrounding the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Vasiliko.
The union’s response came after the story was implicitly referenced by the Attorney General’s caution.
The Union emphasised that institutions are “mandated to protect, not to threaten”.
The announcement from the Union underscored the importance of institutional roles, stating, “If institutions were performing their duties and mission with the constitutionally required adequacy and completeness, there would be no need to dangle the threat of criminal prosecutions over the heads of journalists like a Damoclean sword.”
The Union further argued that handling classified and non-classified documents is “part of the journalistic mission and a constituent element of press freedom”.
It criticised the Attorney General’s warning as not being in line with the spirit of all relevant harmonising legislations enacted by the Republic of Cyprus to bolster press freedom, freedom of expression, and opinion pluralism.
“It is inconceivable for journalists to be protected on one hand and threatened on the other,” the statement read.
Highlighting the significance of the issue raised by Phileleftheros, the Union pointed out that it pertains to the public interest to the “greatest possible extent” and that the context made it clear that there had been “mismanagement that will cost the public coffers many millions”.
The statement concluded by asserting the journalistic community’s duty to not remain indifferent, spreading only what is officially and publicly expressed.
“This is not the first time institutions have attempted to manipulate or restrict journalistic work. Whenever they do, they will find us opposing them,” the Union stated.
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