The Democratic Alarm is once again calling for the immediate appointment of independent criminal investigators to probe the possible crimes revealed by the findings of the “Mafia State” report, while simultaneously launching a fierce attack against AKEL. In a written statement, the party’s Press Spokesperson, Onoufrios Koullas, states that DISY will not accept “lectures” from AKEL, while reiterating its position in favor of a full investigation of the case, with respect for due process and the rule of law.

The following is Onoufrios Koullas’s statement in its entirety:

• Independent criminal investigators must be appointed without further delay

• We will not accept lectures from AKEL unless it engages in self-criticism and publicly acknowledges its mistakes

We reiterate our firm position that the government must appoint independent criminal investigators without further delay to fully investigate the potential offenses identified in the report. We fully respect the established procedures and the rule of law.

The only thing we do not accept is the insinuations and attacks by AKEL, which, given its shameful track record of disregarding findings that concerned it—and even disregarding court decisions— cannot lecture us on sensitivity.

We will never, ever accept lessons from AKEL, unless it engages in self-criticism and publicly acknowledges its mistakes. Not only has it done nothing of the sort to date, but on the contrary, it is desperately trying to convince society that it committed no wrongdoing and that there was nothing reprehensible about the party.

And these are not minor transgressions he is trying to spin. Thirteen lives were lost in Mari, and they pinned the blame on a minister; in the economy, they ruined tens of thousands of families and thousands of businesses. As for their scandal in Dromolaxia, it was perhaps the most ingenious scheme in the history of the Republic.

We reiterate that the Democratic Alarm does not distinguish between “our own” and others. This is our qualitative superiority over AKEL, and we will continue to emphasize it.

We will also continue to steadfastly uphold the principles of Transparency Everywhere, Oversight of Everything and Everyone, and Zero Tolerance for anything proven to be reprehensible.