Committee of Institutions examines abuse of document classification in Cyprus

On Wednesday, the Parliamentary Committee on Institutions in Cyprus conducted a self-initiated review concerning the abuse of document classification by the executive branch. The session was held following a proposal by Eirini Charalambidou, a member of the 'Alma' movement, who raised concerns about a lack of transparency and restricted parliamentary access to official information.

Committee Chairman and DISY MP Demetris Dimitriou criticized the executive branch for its persistent refusal to provide classified documents requested for parliamentary oversight, suggesting this reflects a broader lack of trust toward the legislature. Charalambidou noted that the issue gained prominence after media reports emerged regarding the armored presidential vehicle. The committee concluded that there is an urgent need to implement comprehensive training for public officials and ministry staff to ensure legal compliance and curb the misuse of document confidentiality classifications.

The committee emphasized that current practices frequently hinder legislative control, effectively shielding the executive from public and parliamentary scrutiny. The discussion highlighted the ongoing friction between the legislative and executive branches regarding access to sensitive government information.