Cyprus Union of Journalists criticizes government avoidance of media questioning

The board of the Cyprus Union of Journalists has issued a formal complaint regarding a growing trend of government officials refusing to answer questions from the media. The union asserts that this practice undermines transparency and hinders the critical scrutiny of public affairs. Two specific incidents were cited: on April 16, Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis held a briefing but refused to take questions, and on April 21, no officials provided statements following a cabinet meeting. The union noted that the April 21 session was significant as it included a decision to invite the FBI to assist in the investigation of the Sandy case. The Sandy case involves allegations of corruption linked to high-ranking political and financial figures, as reported by journalist Makarios Drousiotis. The union emphasized that journalists have a duty to question, while officials have an obligation to respond to public scrutiny. They concluded that officials must recognize that the role of a journalist extends beyond merely recording official statements.