By Charlie Charalambous
LAWYERS for the two Israeli agents jailed for approaching a restricted military zone in Cyprus will appeal for a pardon in three months’ time.
Although the three Cypriot lawyers agreed they could not successfully appeal against the three-year sentence imposed by an Assize court last week, they are confident of securing a presidential pardon.
“In three or four months’ time we will apply (for a pardon) and by this time relations between Cyprus and Israel may have improved,” said defence lawyer Michael Kleoppas.
He said that by then time Israelis Udi Hargov, 37, and Igal Damary, 49, would have spent a minimum of six months behind bars (they have been in custody since their November 7 arrest in Zygi).
“It’s too early to request a pardon right now but we believe there are good reasons for granting a pardon and I think the Attorney-general will study the application favourably after six months have passed,” Kleoppas said.
President Clerides said last week that he would not consider granting a pardon until the Israeli agents had completed a part of their sentence.
From the very day the two were first arrested, Israel has applied heavy diplomatic pressure on the Cyprus government for their immediate release.
Cyprus’ refusal to comply has further strained relations between the two countries, already tense because of Israel’s military ties with Turkey.
And having already watered down the original spying charges, the government is well aware that there would be a public outcry if the Israeli agents were released so soon after being convicted.
Another one of the Cypriot lawyers, Andis Triantafyllides, said yesterday he had decided against filing an appeal to the Supreme Court because “it had no chance of succeeding”.
“The Assize Court decision was correct in legal terms and the ruling presented the facts of the case in the right context,” said Triantafyllides.
Kleoppas also argued that public opinion was such that any appeal was bound to fail.
“It’s unlikely we would have won an appeal because everybody in Cyprus has condemned them as spies anyway,” said Kleoppas.
Triantafyllides said his clients, Hargov and Damary, had accepted his legal advice despite the fact they believe the sentence to be harsh.
The Israelis are described as being in good spirits, receiving frequent visits from members of their families.
