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A seconded (temporarily transferred) employee of Cyprus’ Audit Service says he was pressured, sidelined, and abruptly transferred after expressing support for a new political movement, allegations that are raising broader concerns about political neutrality and constitutional protections inside one of the state’s most sensitive watchdog institutions.
Michalis Nikiforos, a construction works supervisor seconded to the Audit Service since 2014, outlined claims of political pressure, workplace intimidation and violations of his fundamental rights in an out-of-court statement and legal position sent to Auditor General Andreas Papakonstantinou on Dec. 29, 2025.
In the letter, also addressed to the Department of Public Works and the SEK union federation, Nikiforos says he continued to serve normally in the Audit Service after the removal of former Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides in 2024. While his duties changed, he says he was never formally reprimanded, disciplined, or negatively evaluated.
That, he claims, shifted in May 2025, just days after he publicly and legally signed a statement supporting the creation of the political movement ALMA, founded by Michaelides.
According to Nikiforos, he was summoned to the Auditor General’s office and asked to justify his political stance. He says his political views were directly linked to his professional treatment, something he describes as an indirect but clear warning about the consequences of political activity.
Claims of Pressure and Sudden Transfer
Nikiforos alleges that this marked the beginning of a pattern of pressure, including repeated private meetings with the Auditor General that he describes as coercive in nature, questioning tied to his political expression and attempts to link constitutionally protected rights to official consequences.
He also claims he was suddenly transferred out of the Audit Service without clear justification and was denied the ability to communicate directly with the director of his original department, the Department of Public Works.
Taken together, he argues, the actions “objectively exceed the limits of lawful administrative supervision” and amount to workplace bullying.
Under Cyprus’ administrative framework, secondment allows a public servant to be temporarily assigned to another service while maintaining their employment status and rights in their original department. It is designed to protect neutrality and continuity—not to serve as a disciplinary tool.
Nikiforos says references he made to a possible transfer were the result of intimidation rather than free choice. He claims the Auditor General personally contacted the Department of Public Works to secure his immediate transfer—one day after his inclusion on ALMA’s electoral list became public.
Consent ‘Not Freely Given,’ He Says
Nikiforos says he was presented with the transfer letter without warning and, under what he describes as cumulative pressure and psychological strain, verbally expressed consent that he later withdrew.
He says he informed the Auditor General in writing the same day that he did not consent to the transfer, arguing that any initial agreement could not be considered a product of free will.
He is now demanding an exact copy of any correspondence sent to the Department of Public Works regarding his transfer, a written and specific justification for the decision, and the suspension of any further action until he is allowed to submit a formal written position.
Legal Action and Wider Implications
A month later, Nikiforos’ lawyer, Artemis Artemiou, sent a follow-up letter to the Auditor General, noting that no official response had been provided.
The letter requests a written reply within a reasonable timeframe and warns that, failing that, Nikiforos reserves the right to pursue legal action before any competent authority.
Beyond the personal dispute, the case touches on broader constitutional questions. Cyprus’ Constitution protects political expression, including for public servants, as long as it does not interfere with official duties. Any suggestion that political views influenced administrative decisions inside the Audit Service, a body tasked with independent oversight of the state, raises concerns about institutional neutrality.
Legal experts note that if the allegations are tested in court, the case could set an important precedent on where the line is drawn between administrative supervision and political pressure within independent authorities.
No Comment From Auditor General
The Cyprus News Agency contacted the Office of the Auditor General for comment. Officials said that, for the time being, the Auditor General will not make any statement on the matter.
