The Attorney General, Costas Clerides, stated that he would address as soon as possible the serious issues arising from the publications on a Russian website that the Cyprus Legal Service has become a branch of the Russian Federal Attorney General's Office.
The publication of the website, according to the newspaper Politis, reveals dozens of emails, sent or received by a senior official of the Legal Service. In these, the official of the Legal Service is said to have special relations with the Russian prosecutor's office and to comment on decisions that, in his opinion, affect the Russian interests. He is also said to be giving legal advice to a Russian official.
The Attorney General, in his announcement today, emphasizes that: the issue that has arisen has many aspects, such as the issue of possible illegal interception and illegal publication of electronic communications product, the issue of possible influence of court proceedings in pending cases concerning Russian for the provision of judicial assistance by the Republic. There is also the issue of possible influence of requests for legal assistance to the authorities of the Russian Federation, the examination of which is pending. There is also a possible issue of order of the involved prosecutor regarding the transmission of data to the requesting state assistance, which data go beyond the strict limits of information regarding the progress of his requests and related issues. And the issue of using a personal e-mail account for the transmission of official and confidential communications.
Editor: Panikos Hatzipanagis
Source: RIK News