DISY and AKEL have criticized the government following the escape of a 39-year-old prisoner from Nicosia General Hospital on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 7. Both parties are calling on the government to take political responsibility for the recurring prisoner escapes, directing their criticism primarily at Justice Minister Marios Charchiotis.

DISY released a statement emphasizing that the latest escape highlights a collapse in citizens' sense of security, accusing the police of failing to manage fundamental responsibilities.

"The repeated escapes have become a joke, but one with serious consequences for society," the statement read. DISY called for the government to take responsibility, stating that "excuses are no longer enough." They demanded a thorough investigation to identify the root causes of these incidents, stressing the need to restore public trust by delivering tangible results and solutions.

AKEL described the escapes as routine occurrences, undermining public safety and ridiculing the police force. Their statement questioned the police's ability to handle more serious issues such as organized crime, drug trafficking, and violence when they fail to secure detainees.

"The number and frequency of escapes indicate that the problems lie not with rank-and-file police officers but higher up, revealing deeper structural issues," AKEL stated.

They also criticized the previous DISY-led government, accusing it of undermining the operational capacity of the police by appointing leadership based on political interests. However, AKEL held the current administration accountable, pointing out that it is now in its third year and cannot deflect responsibility.

The party specifically mentioned the case of convicted murderer Doros Theofanous, who escaped custody, and posed a pointed question: "How many escapes will it take before political responsibility is accepted?"