AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou has called for the immediate publication of the Elias Stefanou investigative report and the reopening of the so-called spy van case, urging authorities to examine all aspects of the affair and determine responsibility.
In a written statement, Stefanou accused the Law Office of persistently covering up the case and described it as an example of "blatant institutional corruption and collusion by the Anastasiades-DISY government".
According to the AKEL leader, evidence submitted to parliament and the courts shows the existence of a system capable of carrying out mass unlawful surveillance and interceptions. He said the same evidence indicated that the activities of the spy van were known to state authorities and officials.
Stefanou said criminal proceedings against those involved were halted by the Law Office on the grounds of an unspecified "public interest", while also accusing the Legal Service of blocking further investigation by the Anti-Corruption Authority and treating the case as closed.
'Guardians of inaction'
"Those who had the responsibility and obligation to protect the rule of law became guardians of inaction and cover-up," Stefanou said.
He questioned "who governs this country" and why a case involving surveillance and illegal interceptions had not been fully investigated.
Stefanou also asked why an inquiry into the possible involvement of the Deputy Attorney General had been prevented, referring to the Anti-Corruption Authority's position that it had intended to examine the matter. He further questioned why the report by the special investigator remained unpublished despite recommendations by the European Parliament committee that examined the scandal.
According to Stefanou, these issues lead to the conclusion that "much is being concealed regarding the activities of the spy van and this is being done with the Legal Service playing the leading role".
He also said the silence of the Christodoulides administration was "revealing of the political cover it provides for the handling of the Attorney General's Office".
Institutional crisis
Describing the situation as a "deep institutional crisis", Stefanou noted that prison sentences had been imposed in Greece in what he said was the same case, involving the same protagonists and similar offences.
"The Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General must assume responsibility for the decisions and handling of the Legal Service," he said.
He added that if they were unable to ensure the case was investigated independently, fully and without interference, they should resign.
"AKEL will not allow this case to be swept under the carpet. It will raise the issue again in parliament because it concerns the credibility of state institutions, the functioning of the rule of law, state security and the protection of citizens' personal data," Stefanou said.
He said AKEL was demanding that the spy van case be reopened, that the Elias Stefanou report be published immediately, that all aspects of the affair and any political, state or other connections be investigated, and that responsibility be assigned to those involved in the scandal.
