Elizabeth Georgiou
Cyprus’ parliamentary legal affairs committee has agreed on a new framework for phone surveillance, aiming to balance national security needs with citizens’ rights, but not without controversy.
After multiple rounds of discussion and intense deliberation, the committee settled on a system where, in exceptionally serious cases, the head of the Cyprus Intelligence Service (KYP) can authorize phone tapping without prior court approval. Once surveillance begins, the case must be presented to a three-member oversight committee within 72 hours, which will decide whether monitoring should continue.
The arrangement appears to have secured broad political backing within the committee, with all parties except AKEL and a few lawmakers supporting the amendment. The proposal is set to go before the full House of Representatives on April 2.
Attorney General sidelined
A major change under the new plan is the role of the attorney general. Unlike previous arrangements, the Attorney General will have no part in approving surveillance. Oversight and approval now rest entirely with the three-member committee supervising KYP operations.
AKEL voices strong objections
AKEL lawmaker Andreas Pasiourtidis expressed serious reservations after the session, arguing that consensus should not come at the cost of fundamental safeguards. “When a constitutional amendment requires 38 votes, discussions are necessary to find common ground. But this cannot come at the expense of human rights protections, nor should institutions be sidelined just to pass a proposal that fails to address key concerns,” he said.
Pasiourtidis emphasized that for AKEL, the debate is about institutions and checks and balances, not individuals. He argued that judicial oversight in the initial phase of surveillance is essential and should not be removed, despite arguments about secrecy or speed.
He also highlighted concerns about the emerging model allowing KYP to initiate surveillance solely on the director’s decision, with approval sought only afterward. “Do we really trust a three-member committee appointed by the Cabinet more than the courts?” he asked.
Tensions flare in the committee
The debate also featured political friction. Pasiourtidis revealed that during the session, tensions rose when AKEL raised objections. According to him, the president of DIKO, Nikolas Papadopoulos, told the party to remain silent since they would not vote for the draft, even though they had not formally declared this position, leaving other lawmakers to shape the text. Pasiourtidis described this as “a dangerous attitude for democracy.”
The new rules highlight the ongoing challenge Cyprus faces in balancing state security with civil liberties, a debate likely to continue as the full House prepares to vote.
