“We are rushing towards something whose outcome we do not know,” indicated Attorney-General Giorgos Savvides when asked about the investigation initiated by the Anti-Corruption Authority concerning references in a book by Makarios Drousiotis about the governance of Nikos Anastasiades.
“We have absolute respect for the Independent Authority against Corruption,” he added, suggesting that this was demonstrated by the Legal Service during the examination of the case against the Assistant General Prosecutor.
“As for my relationship with the former President of the Republic, I believe that the honest and right thing to do was what I did, not to hide from anyone the personal friendship relationship that has connected us for 40 years,” added the Attorney-General.
“Beyond that, if and when any conditions arise requiring the Legal Service to make decisions, you know very well that there are ways to resolve any relationships or conflicts,” he noted.
Regarding the meeting to examine the results of the investigations into the case of the Monastery Saint Habakkuk, the Attorney-General, when asked, noted that “it is a very broad issue,” adding that “now that various teams and criminal investigators we appointed had the opportunity to carry out some work, we intend to and have already invited all investigators and prosecutors to come to a meeting at the Legal Service, so that we can evaluate the issue so far.”
When asked if he would be exempt from any procedure, he did not want to comment at this stage and reiterated that he did the right thing by not hiding his personal relationship with Nikos Anastasiades.
Also, when asked about the criminal prosecution against Katsounotos, he said he would not like to comment publicly. “There is communication from my office with the independent Authority, and I don’t want to reveal anything about this communication,” he said, referring to the Authority for information.
Asked if the lack of information confirms those who speak of concealment around decisions of the Legal Service, Savvides said that at some point the decision will become known and public.
“Despite the fact that many accuse us of limiting ourselves to stating our decisions without explaining them, I believe that in most decisions that have occupied public opinion, we have provided detailed and explanatory decisions, and if necessary, we will do so here and in any other case of public interest,” he stated.
In response to a question about the issue of multiple pensions for officials, the Attorney-General said that bills have been drafted by the Ministry of Finance, in consultation with the Legal Service.
“Beyond that, the issue is political, that is, if Parliament will disagree with the philosophy of these and propose something else, which is a matter that does not concern us but concerns the state, the executive power, and the legislative,” he said.
He also added that “with the court’s issued decisions, it is not so easy to make such regulations affecting pensions that have already been crystallized, so we must be careful in legislative regulation, to avoid again encountering unconstitutional provisions.”
