Conspiracy against Cyprus Competition Chief

The Chairman of the Commission for the Protection of Competition of the Republic of Cyprus (CPC) George Christophides was the subject of a massive conspiracy move, probably as punishment for his tough stance taken on a number of high profile cases. On Friday the civil servants union raided the CPC offices for “alleged violation of employee rights” over closed-circuit cameras in the CPC offices.

“The PASYDY people forcibly entered my office and brought along TV cameras thinking that such action can force me to give up defending the principles of this office,” Christophides told the Financial Mirror.

He was commenting on the decision of 10 CPC officers to walk out of their jobs Friday and go on an indefinite strike, alleging that Christophides has installed a closed-circuit camera system and is spying on them. The staff further allege that Christophides has been intervening in the drafting of their reports.

The civil servants union PASYDY General Secretary Glafkos Hadjipetrou took the unusual course of leading the unauthorized raid into the CPC Chairman’s office and for dragging along the TV cameras to apply pressure.

The irony of the situation is that the closed-circuit camera system has been installed at the CPC office for many months and with the full knowledge of the CPC employees now going on strike.

Christophides told the Financial Mirror that the Attorney General has said he is not concerned with the closed-circuit camera system and is only interested to know if phone conversations were tapped, which were not, hence there is no matter for the AG to investigate.

When asked by the Financial Mirror if the “raid” was made in response and in retaliation to recent high profile decisions taken by the CPC against business interests, Christophides said, “I can only tell you that everybody knew about the closed-circuit camera system but as to why it started bothering people, at this very moment, when we are just about to take crucial decisions on sensitive matters is anybody’s guess.”

“But I can tell you something. I will not be intimidated by such action, and I shall continue to do my job, which is to protect the general public’s interest,” a determined Christophides said, sending a powerful message through the Financial Mirror that his office will not yield in to pressure.

Meanwhile the CPC committee, during its Friday session and after a briefing by the Chairman regarding the violent way with which PASYDY members raided the CPC offices, issued a harsh statement denouncing PASYD’s tactics.

“We denounce the violent entry, stay and attitude of PASYDY members at our offices and specifically in the office of the Chairman without his permission and despite repeated calls for them to vacate the CPC offices, and for their decision to disturb the smooth operation of the CPC.”

The Commission added that it fully respects the rights of employees to strike and for this purpose it will not comment on that, but it stressed that the CPC shall remain an independent authority.