Anti-corruption authority and attorney general clash over black van case

A public dispute has erupted in Cyprus between the Independent Authority Against Corruption and Attorney General Giorgos Savvides following the Authority's decision to terminate its investigation into the infamous "black van" surveillance case. The conflict centers on a letter sent by the Authority on July 16, 2026, regarding its intention to probe all aspects of the case, including potential conflicts of interest involving the Deputy Attorney General, Savvas Angelides. While the Authority claims its expanded scope was clear during a meeting on July 29, 2026, Savvides maintains that the terms of reference provided were specific, did not include the Deputy Attorney General, and that all relevant matters had already been exhaustively investigated years ago.

The "black van" case, which first came to light after an advertisement revealed its surveillance capabilities, previously resulted in a conviction for the owning company and a fine of approximately 70,000 euros, though individuals involved were acquitted. The current impasse follows the Authority’s decision to close the new inquiry based on Article 10 of the relevant law, which restricts duplicate investigations. While the Attorney General has challenged the Authority to declassify and publish the correspondence, the Authority asserts that the leadership of the Legal Service was fully aware of the investigation's intended scope, leading to growing criticism regarding institutional transparency and the handling of the allegations.