In a letter addressed to the General Accountant of the Republic, and copied to the Director General of the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General, former Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides claims "unlawful withholding" of his pension and other benefits. He also speaks of a "campaign to undermine" him by the government and the Attorney General.

On Saturday, Michaelides made public the letter, which is dated that same day and was also copied to the Attorney General of the Republic and the Director General of the Ministry of Finance. He mentions a phone conversation with the General Accountant on October 25, 2024, during which he was informed that he is entitled to receive both his pension and lump sum corresponding to his 26 years of service (September 15, 1998, to September 18, 2024), as well as the accumulated 75 days of leave and part of the 13th salary. This is based on the 2006 opinion of then-Attorney General Petros Clerides regarding the case of judge Costas Kamenos, who was dismissed for misconduct.

According to Michaelides, Senior Counsel of the Republic Eleni Simeonidou, who attended several meetings on the matter, informed the General Accountant that "although she agrees that I am entitled to all my pension benefits, she refused to document this in the case file as requested." Michaelides also notes that during a conversation between the General Accountant and the Attorney General, the latter stated that he "is unable to provide an opinion and will therefore consult a private lawyer."

"It is evident that both the government and the Attorney General continue their campaign to undermine me, this time by unlawfully seizing my property," Michaelides writes in his letter, adding that what is happening is unprecedented.

"In the case of retired officials still in office, they receive their pensions along with their salaries, contrary to the explicit provision of the law that prohibits this. Yet, in my case, you are attempting to seize an indisputable property of mine because the Attorney General verbally informed you that he cannot find the relevant legal provision to grant me my rights. Due to his animosity, which apparently continues even after my dismissal, the Attorney General could not locate Article 9(f) and now wants to appoint a private lawyer to tell him that I am not entitled to my vested and guaranteed pension rights for which I have made contributions," he adds, stating that "it is a disgrace for our country that such actions are taking place, mainly due to the actions of the head of state, the President of the Republic."

"We all have a duty in this country to strongly react to what is happening. Civil society must and has the power to oppose this corrupt system. For this reason, I am making this letter public," he concludes.