AKEL party condemns police investigations into social media posts during elections

The opposition party AKEL has announced a legislative proposal aimed at repealing an electoral law provision that criminalizes social media posts made during election periods. The party describes the current government's actions as a "witch hunt," alleging that authorities are monitoring private citizens' accounts and summoning them to police headquarters to provide statements regarding content posted during the legislative elections held last May.

The controversy intensified after Theano Kalavana, president of OPEK, was summoned for questioning regarding a Facebook post she made on the eve of the May elections which remained visible on polling day. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 22 cases are under investigation, involving 17 election candidates and five non-candidates. Menelaos Vasileiou, head of the Electoral Service, confirmed that a team from the Press and Information Office monitors social media activity throughout the pre-election process.

AKEL has accused the Christodoulides administration of using outdated regulations to suppress free speech, linking this controversy to previous government scandals. The party intends to push for legal amendments to abolish these provisions in the near future to protect citizens from potential criminal prosecution.