Cyprus Times

Risk of Institutional Derailment in the Election of Cypriot Judge to ECHR, Says Christos Clerides

Published January 8, 2026, 16:07
Risk of Institutional Derailment in the Election of Cypriot Judge to ECHR, Says Christos Clerides

Lawyer Dr. Christos Clerides expresses serious concerns about the risk of institutional derailment in the election of the Cypriot judge to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). As the legal representative of candidates X. Xenophon and K. Loizou, he accuses officials of the Council of Europe of unprecedented maneuvers that undermine judicial independence. Specifically, he denounces the falsification of an academic title by a candidate, the dominance of the executive branch in the process, the vindictive treatment of a judicial officer, and political interventions that led to the withdrawal of another candidate. Furthermore, he reports arbitrary intervention in the CVs of candidates by the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Clerides calls for the suspension of the process until the allegations are fully investigated, in order to safeguard the reputation of the ECHR.