Political dispute over the black surveillance van case in Cyprus

The AKEL party has publicly condemned the Cypriot Legal Service and the government, alleging a systematic cover-up in the 'black van' surveillance case. General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou described the situation as a major institutional corruption scandal involving the previous Anastasiades-DISY administration. AKEL officials argue that evidence presented to Parliament and the courts proves the existence of a mass surveillance system known to state authorities. They claim the Legal Service obstructed the Independent Authority Against Corruption and suspended prosecutions under the ambiguous justification of 'public interest,' effectively blocking further investigation.

In response, the Democratic Rally (DISY) party issued a statement criticizing AKEL for allegedly attempting to assume the roles of investigator, accuser, and judge simultaneously. DISY emphasized that it supports full transparency and accountability but argued that investigation is the exclusive domain of competent state institutions, not political parties. The party cautioned against the politicization of legal processes, asserting that authorities must be allowed to perform their duties independently. As of mid-September 2026, the dispute remains ongoing, with AKEL demanding the immediate publication of the Ilias Stefanou report and the reopening of the case.