The dispute over the unauthorized event in Akamas has intensified, after the Environment Department and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research issued a joint statement rejecting accusations of negligence made by the Audit Office.

In their announcement, the two departments insisted they had taken “all necessary precautionary measures” to eliminate any possible threat from the outdoor event held on 23 August near Agios Georgios Peyia, close to the strictly protected turtle nesting beach at Toxeutra. They denied any negligence or delays, asserting that their actions were immediate and effective under the circumstances.

>>Akamas: Lawlessness Reigns with the Tolerance of Local Authorities<<

The statement also expressed “regret” at the way the Audit Office presented the case, arguing that the watchdog made its announcement before receiving full information on the steps taken by the departments.

However, the response has raised further controversy. By focusing on procedural defenses and denying any wrongdoing, the departments avoided addressing the key questions posed by the Audit Office: why, despite early warnings, no decisive action was taken to prevent the event; why state authorities appeared to tolerate unauthorized activities in a Natura 2000 zone; and whether public officials acted with negligence to serve private interests.

The departments’ stance amounts to an anti-institutional confrontation with the Audit Office, undermining its independent role in safeguarding legality and accountability. Instead of clarifying how such an event was allowed to proceed in a highly sensitive ecological area, the statement dismissed concerns as misrepresentations — fueling suspicions of a broader institutional failure.

The Audit Office has intensified pressure on state authorities over the unauthorized private party held in the Akamas Natura 2000 zone, insisting that key questions about permits and government approval remain unanswered.

Speaking on RIK radio’s “Proino Dromologio,” Audit Office spokesperson Marios Petrides revealed that on 22 August, following a formal complaint, the office immediately requested clarifications from the heads of the Environment Department and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research. Despite the warnings, the controversial event went ahead near Agios Georgios Peyia on 23 August.

On 25 August, after the event had taken place, the Audit Office sent an urgent hand-delivered letter to the Ministers of Agriculture and Interior. The letter asked whether the necessary Cabinet approval had been granted, if a permit had been issued by the environmental authority, and whether any measures were taken to mitigate the ecological impact.

Petrides reiterated that attempts to link the private birthday party to the annual Carob Festival were misleading, stressing that the stage was erected at a different site and, as far as the office can determine, without the required permits. He warned that while the authorities were aware of the planned event, they failed to take preventive action.

Asked whether the Cabinet had authorized the event, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said he had no knowledge of such approval. He emphasized that laws and procedures must be respected and that the government is awaiting information from the relevant departments.