justice

Another pro-Palestine protest held in Nicosia

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Another pro-Palestine protest held in Nicosia

The latest pro-Palestine protest in Cyprus occurred in Nicosia’s central Eleftheria square on a Saturday. The protest organizers claimed that nearly 27,000 Gazans had been killed by Israel since October 7 of the previous year. They criticized the European Union and other Western powers for choosing to defund the UNRWA after some members were accused of involvement in Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. The protesters demanded an immediate permanent ceasefire, an end to the blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and for Israel to stop its actions in the West Bank. This protest followed a statement from the Palestinian embassy in Nicosia expressing disappointment with the Cypriot foreign ministry’s description of the genocide charges Israel faces at the International Court of Justice as “inaccurate.” Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis had referred to the Palestinian casualties as “collateral damage,” which was met with a strong response from ambassador Abdallah Attari. Pro-Palestine protests have also occurred in other Cypriot cities and at British military facilities.

The government's measures on fan violence are rash – All involved call for withdrawal of the bill

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The government's measures on fan violence are rash - All involved call for withdrawal of the bill

The government's proposed measures to address sports violence have sparked a storm of reactions, both from parliamentary parties and the Football Federation, calling on the Ministry of Justice to withdraw the draft law and consult with those involved in shaping a new legislative proposal.

Suspects, ’ request for change of murder trial location denied

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Suspects, ’ request for change of murder trial location denied

The defendants in the murder case of Thanasis Kalogeropoulos requested to be tried at the Nicosia Criminal Court instead of Limassol, but their request was denied. The hearing will continue on February 8 at the Limassol court. The four defendants previously appeared in court wearing bulletproof vests and reported harassment by Kalogeropoulos’ family members. They are being held in custody and face charges including premeditated murder. The 41-year-old and the 21-year-old are alleged to be the killers, while the 44-year-old is believed to have organized the plan at his mansion. Kalogeropoulos was murdered in Limassol, and Alexis Mavromichalis, who was also believed to have gangland connections, was murdered in Nicosia, but no one has been arrested for his murder.

“I don’t have a magic wand,” Justice Minister says

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“I don’t have a magic wand,” Justice Minister says

Minister of Justice Marios Hartsiotis has emphasized that the safety of citizens and public order is his main focus. He acknowledges that he does not have a quick solution to recent violent incidents at stadiums and suggests that measures should be taken to address the situation rather than avoiding it. He highlights that there has been a recent increase in crime and incidents at football stadiums. The Minister explains that he couldn’t take immediate drastic measures but has instructed the police to prioritize safeguarding human life.

Attorney General is, whatever he wants to do… – Unchecked power, the Russian oligarch and the public interest

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Attorney General is, whatever he wants to do... - Unchecked power, the Russian oligarch and the public interest

The proposed law by E. Charalambidou aims to put an end to the uncontrolled power of the general prosecutor to justify the acquittals of defendants in criminal cases. The proposal will be presented to the Parliament and aims to modify the Constitution in order to control the decisions of the general prosecutor. Currently, the general prosecutor has the power to intervene and interrupt criminal proceedings based on Article 113 of the Constitution. However, this power is not subject to judicial review and the general prosecutor can make decisions without being accountable to anyone. The proposed law seeks to address this issue and ensure transparency and accountability in the justice system. The need for this reform has been highlighted by international organizations, including the European Commission, which stated that the lack of control over the decisions of the general prosecutor raises concerns and is not in line with the principles of the rule of law.

US court will not revisit ruling limiting voting rights lawsuits

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Civil rights activists failed to persuade the full 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider a ruling that could limit lawsuits enforcing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act’s protections against racial discrimination. The court maintained that only the government, not private plaintiffs, can pursue such cases. This decision, originating from a November 2-1 panel ruling, is the first of its kind from a federal appeals court and affects seven states within the 8th Circuit’s jurisdiction. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit challenging an Arkansas State House of Representatives redistricting plan, which was alleged to diminish the voting power of Black residents. The plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, are considering further legal actions, potentially appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2022, U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky ruled that only the U.S. attorney general can file lawsuits under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racially discriminatory voting rules. Three judges dissented from the decision not to rehear the case, with U.S. Circuit Judge Steven Colloton criticizing the November ruling as “flawed.”

The cardiologist who was accused of forging SafePasses for those who died from covid was acquitted

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The cardiologist who was accused of forging SafePasses for those who died from covid was acquitted

A 54-year-old cardiologist in Larnaca has been acquitted and cleared of the 12 charges he faced for issuing fake vaccination certificates to two of his patients who later contracted and died from COVID-19. The Court decided that the Prosecution Authority failed to prove the charges to the extent required in a criminal trial. The Court specifically mentioned that the testimony provided by the Prosecution Authority failed to prove the main allegation that the Doctor issued vaccination certificates to the two individuals without actually vaccinating them. Based on this finding, the Court acquitted the Doctor of all charges. The Doctor, who has been cleared of the charges, expresses his gratitude to the Cypriot Justice and expects the immediate reinstatement of his contract with the Health Insurance Organization so that he can continue providing his services to his patients without interruption.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley targeted in swatting incident

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Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley targeted in swatting incident

Authorities responded to a fake emergency at the South Carolina home of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley last month. A man claimed to have shot a woman and threatened to harm himself at her home, but it was determined to be a hoax. This incident is part of a wave of violent threats, bomb scares, and other acts of intimidation against government officials, members of the judiciary, and election administrators since the 2020 election. Swatting cases have increased in the past two months, targeting both allies and rivals of former President Donald Trump. The targets include figures who have publicly opposed Trump, as well as Trump supporters. Swatting is seen as a form of intimidation or harassment that is increasingly being used to target political figures.

US Justice Department finds that ex-New York Governor Cuomo sexually harassed employees

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US Justice Department finds that ex-New York Governor Cuomo sexually harassed employees

The U.S. Justice Department has agreed with the New York attorney general’s finding that former governor Andrew Cuomo violated federal law by sexually harassing female employees and retaliating against those who spoke out. The federal agency has signed a settlement with the New York Executive Chamber to approve reforms implemented by Cuomo’s successor, Kathy Hochul, to prevent and address misconduct. The settlement calls for the expansion of the human resources department, the addition of new avenues for reporting and resolving complaints involving high-level officials, and the implementation of new training and anti-retaliation programs. Cuomo’s attorney denies the allegations of sexual harassment.