Supreme Court rejects criminal prosecution of state officials by unionist

The Supreme Court of Cyprus has rejected a private criminal application (1/2026) filed by prison officer and 'Isotita' union official Giorgos Maltezos. The applicant sought to initiate criminal proceedings against five state officials, including the Minister of Justice and the Deputy Director of the Department of Prisons, alleging violations of the law ratifying International Labour Organization Convention 135 regarding the protection of employee representatives.

The court ruled that the proposed indictment lacked a legal basis, as the accused could not be considered employers or representatives of the employer under the relevant legislation. Additionally, the court characterized the move as an abuse of the judicial process. This decision follows an initial refusal by the Nicosia District Court on July 1, 2026, which had also blocked the registration of the indictment. The case emerged after the Ministry of Justice terminated Maltezos's employment, citing a disciplinary investigation that found repeated non-compliance with work duties, while Maltezos claimed his dismissal was retaliation for his union activities.

The Supreme Court’s final ruling effectively puts an end to the private prosecution attempt. Maltezos had sought to challenge his dismissal through the court system, but the judiciary concluded that the legal framework for the claimed labor law violations did not apply in this specific context.