In a landmark decision, Cyprus’ highest court has ruled on Wednesday that the country’s comptroller general should be dismissed from his position due to alleged misconduct and interference in judicial matters. This ruling marks a significant event in the 64-year history of the Mediterranean nation.

The Supreme Constitutional Court, comprising an eight-judge panel, issued a 209-page verdict citing that Odysseas Michaelides had overstepped his boundaries and displayed inappropriate behavior for his role as chief accountant of the government. The court’s decision is the latest development in an ongoing dispute involving Michaelides, Attorney General George Savvides, and his deputy Savvas Angelides, who raised concerns about Michaelides’ actions.

According to the judges, Michaelides had exceeded his powers by improperly intervening in legal cases, showing disrespect towards the attorney general, and making unfounded allegations against the attorney general’s office, thereby jeopardizing the legal process and undermining the rule of law. The court also criticized Michaelides for his social media posts, which were deemed to contain misleading information and insinuations against the attorney general and his deputy.

The ruling is considered binding for Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, as confirmed by government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis during a state broadcaster announcement. Despite garnering both support and controversy during his ten-year tenure, 56-year-old Michaelides expressed feeling unjustly treated, suggesting that while he acknowledges his mistakes, he believes the ruling to be unjust. He further claimed that there was a concerted effort by the government to remove him.

In his statement following the court’s decision, Michaelides highlighted the importance of the justice system prevailing over corruption, suggesting that his actions were aligned with the public’s desire to combat corrupt practices.