Newsroom
Cyprus’ Attorney General Giorgos Savvidis announced Thursday that no criminal charges will be filed against former Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides, a polarizing figure best known for publicly clashing with politicians and exposing government practices.
The decision follows months of scrutiny over Michaelides’ televised claims that the Supreme Constitutional Court’s council was neither impartial nor independent when it upheld his dismissal earlier this year. Those remarks sparked heated debate, drawing criticism from the court itself, which had pressed him to provide evidence for his allegations.
Investigators later found no proof to back his statements. While Savvidis concluded there was enough legal ground to prosecute him for contempt of court, he said moving forward with charges could risk inflaming public opinion and undermining trust in the judiciary.
Instead, Savvidis framed the outcome as a “second chance” for Michaelides, one paired with an explicit warning that similar conduct will not be tolerated in the future.
Michaelides, never one to shy away from confrontation, responded defiantly. In a social media post, he accused the Attorney General of trying to appear “magnanimous” despite having “fought me furiously since 2020.” He insisted he would not be silenced, maintaining his stance that the council that ruled on his dismissal was not a legitimate court.
Throughout his tenure, Michaelides built a reputation as a relentless watchdog who rattled political elites with scathing audits and outspoken commentary. His removal and the legal battle that followed have fueled debate over accountability, freedom of expression, and the limits of criticism against Cyprus’ judiciary.
For now, the case is closed, but the long-running feud between Michaelides and the state shows no signs of cooling down.
