Supreme Constitutional Court overturns fine imposed on Diastasis F.M. Limited

On October 5, 2026, the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus issued a landmark decision overturning a lower court ruling and cancelling a €1,500 administrative fine imposed on Diastasis F.M. Limited. The fine had been levied by the Cyprus Radio-Television Authority regarding the radio station 107.4 Active, specifically concerning the content of the program "Activistas" broadcast on April 27, 2017.

The Authority had previously accused the broadcaster of violating Article 26 (1) (e) of the Radio and Television Organizations Law and specific regulations from 2000. However, the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled unanimously that the legal provisions used by the Authority to impose the fine did not grant the necessary clear and specific legal authority to do so. The court determined that while a legislative provision can set content standards, it must explicitly authorize the imposition of administrative sanctions for a specific offense, which was lacking in this instance.

This decision clarifies the scope of the Authority's regulatory powers and sets a legal precedent for how media fines are legally substantiated in the future. The case effectively concludes the legal challenge initiated by the company against the Authority's 2017 decision.