Angelides Refuses to Resign After Mishandled Rape Case
Deputy Attorney General rejects calls to step down, framing criticism as a threat to justice.
Assistant Attorney General Savvas Angelides is at the center of a national controversy following a damning ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The court condemned the Republic of Cyprus for its mishandling of a rape case involving a politically connected figure, citing gender discrimination and prosecutorial failure.
Instead of resigning, Angelides defended his actions at a press conference, claiming that the backlash was politically driven and constituted “a direct threat to justice.” He framed his 2021 decision to drop the case as a strategic move based on “new evidence” and concerns that a failed trial could discourage victims from coming forward. “This was a judgment call, not an act of indifference or bias,” he stated. Standing beside him, Attorney General George Savvides echoed his sentiments and warned of “organized attempts” to undermine the institution.
The ECHR’s judgment, released last week, found that Cyprus violated Articles 3, 8, and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The court pointed to re-victimization, prosecutorial negligence, and the use of sexist stereotypes in dismissing the victim’s testimony. It cited a pattern of undue focus on emotional inconsistencies in the victim’s account and failure to consider key evidence.
This ruling marks the second time in five months that Cyprus has been condemned by the ECHR for its handling of rape allegations—underscoring systemic issues related to gender bias and institutional impunity.
Public response was swift and widespread. Outside the Legal Service building, dozens of civil society organizations, feminist groups, and private citizens protested yesterday, demanding Angelides’ resignation. A powerful open letter from the complainant was read aloud, accusing Angelides of “institutional sexism” and highlighting procedural violations, including being denied access to her own testimony and learning of the case's dismissal through the media.
“You failed me,” she wrote. “You judged me with patriarchal and subjective bias. You stripped me of dignity and justice.”
Political parties also weighed in. AKEL labeled Angelides “the threat to justice,” accusing the Legal Service of shielding the powerful. The Green Party and Volt echoed these calls for immediate resignation, arguing that the legal system's credibility cannot survive with a figure condemned by Europe’s highest human rights court at its helm.
“The press conference only deepened public anger and distrust,” the Greens said. EDEK described Angelides' attitude as “arrogant and lacking self-awareness,” while Volt criticized his statements as “moral superiority wrapped in victimhood.”
President Nikos Christodoulides avoided commenting directly on Angelides’ position but stressed the obligation to implement ECHR decisions. He pointed to his government’s initiative to introduce structural reforms, including checks on prosecutorial power—indirectly addressing concerns raised by civil society and echoed in the latest 2025 Rule of Law Report from the European Commission. The report flagged Cyprus’s lack of prosecutorial accountability and called for stronger oversight mechanisms.
Despite this, Angelides maintained a defiant stance. “I’m not a political figure, so resignation is not how I show accountability,” he said, arguing that public pressure should not influence prosecutorial decisions and warning against “mob justice.” However, Angelides’ refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing only deepens the crisis of confidence in the justice system.
