ECHR examines complaint regarding the dismissal of Cyprus's former Auditor General

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has notified the Republic of Cyprus of a complaint filed by former Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides concerning his removal from office. The application, registered under number 37254/24, was submitted on December 9, 2024, and officially communicated to the state on August 20, 2026. This step represents the initial stage of the ECHR proceedings and does not constitute a final ruling on the merits of the case.

Michaelides was dismissed on September 18, 2024, following a decision by the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus, which acted upon a request by the Attorney General. The court had ruled that Michaelides’s public conduct, including statements and institutional conflicts, rendered him unfit for office. In his appeal to the ECHR, the former official alleged violations of several rights, including the right to a fair trial, the right to reputation, and the right to freedom of expression.

The ECHR has now formally requested that both parties provide clarifications regarding Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which covers freedom of expression. The court is specifically asking whether the termination of Michaelides's employment constituted an interference with this right, whether it was prescribed by law, and whether it was necessary in a democratic society. Further proceedings will depend on the responses provided by the involved parties.