Sigma Live

Christos Clerides: Risk of Institutional Derailment in the Election of a Cypriot Judge to the ECHR

Published January 8, 2026, 16:09
Christos Clerides: Risk of Institutional Derailment in the Election of a Cypriot Judge to the ECHR

Lawyer Christos Clerides warns of a risk of institutional derailment in the process of electing a Cypriot judge to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). As legal representative of two candidates, he accuses senior officials of the Council of Europe of unprecedented practices that undermine judicial independence and the credibility of the ECHR. Specifically, Mr. Clerides alleges the falsification of an academic title by a candidate, claiming to have evidence from the University of Strasbourg proving the inaccuracy. He also reports the dominance of the executive branch and political figures in the process, as well as retaliatory treatment of a judicial officer. A significant complaint concerns the withdrawal of a candidate from the Supreme Court of Cyprus, which Mr. Clerides attributes to political interference. He also points out the arbitrary intervention of the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the curricula vitae of candidates, creating conditions of unequal treatment. Mr. Clerides calls on the leadership of the Council of Europe to suspend the process until the allegations are fully investigated, emphasizing that safeguarding the reputation of the ECHR is the duty of all and that the court should not operate under questioning due to domestic arbitrariness and political expediency.