ATTORNEY-general Solon Nikitas yesterday responded to criticism by government partner AKEL against his decision to order a criminal investigation into beleaguered Health Minister Dina Akkelidou.
Akkelidou came under investigation last week after writing a letter in support of a drugs suspect to a judge in an ongoing case. The findings of the police probe were due to be handed to the Legal Service yesterday, according to Police Chief Tassos Panayiotou, after which it is up to Nikitas to decide whether to go ahead and prosecute Akkelidou for committing a criminal offence.
“I observe with sadness the unrestrained attacks by specific political quarters – which result in heavy although groundless claims – against me with regard to the police investigation which I recently ordered,” said Nikitas.
“I won’t refer to the motives of this polemic against me because it should not become a personal issue. First and foremost is the protection of justice, the principle which secures freedom and equality, including equal treatment and the prohibition of unjustifiable discrimination,” he said.
Failure to do so would result in feelings of injustice, leading to the corrosion of society and a shattering of faith in justice and its institutions, he added.
The Attorney-general expressed sadness that he was forced to speak out during an ongoing investigation but said it was “imperative to safeguard the uninhibited functioning of the institutions of justice”.
“I want to assure every citizen that I will continue to perform my duties without fear and without passion,” said Nikitas.
The unusual interjection by the Attorney-general was triggered by AKEL’s statement last Saturday questioning the legal basis used by Nikitas to order a criminal probe into one of its members.
DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades yesterday charged the left-wing party with interfering in the work of an independent officer. “It is unthinkable that there can be such interference and without scruples in the work of an independent officer.
Asked whether AKEL was attempting to influence the work of investigators, Anastassiades replied: “I think either that was their aim or an unprecedented attack against an independent officer.”
He said it was everyone’s right to exercise criticism but not to the extent and with the acidity that they attacked Nikitas.
The DISY leader argued that it was not the job of political parties to control Attorney-generals, noting that the independence of institutions needed protection if justice was to be preserved.
Regarding previous calls for her resignation by DISY members, Anastassiades said political responsibility was separate from criminal responsibility, and as such it would not be wise to make further criticism until the investigation was over.
Meanwhile, the European Democracy party yesterday said Akkelidou had no option but to resign after “the obvious case of intervening in the course of justice”.
The party said in a released statement that a collection of mistakes and bad handling, particularly with the latest legal blunder, left no room for any other option.
“We call on AKEL to abandon the logic of ‘party patriotism’ and put the public interest higher on the agenda.
The minister remained resolute yesterday, telling reporters that she was sure the Attorney-general would be convinced by the sincerity of her actions. Asked if she would contemplate resigning if the probe concluded she had committed a criminal offence, Akkelidou replied: “If that comes up, we’ll talk.”
