Insistence on his innocence and views diametrically opposed to the findings of the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority regarding Makarios Drousiotis’s book “Mafia State,” stated former President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades during the one-hour press conference he held to present his own positions and responses.

SEE ALSO: Anastasiades’ Full Press Conference: His Responses Regarding “Mafia State” and What He Demanded

This is the assessment of lawyer Simos Angelides, speaking on the “Alpha News” program, where he emphasized that the former President of the Republic attempted to completely dismantle the Authority’s 67-page announcementissued by the Authority, claiming that the allegations made against him by Mr. Drousiotis have collapsed and arguing that the criminal matters were never brought to his attention and he was never given the opportunity to respond.

Mr. Angelidis noted that Mr. Anastasiades’s effort focused on sharply criticizing the four-member Committee, saying that it did not resist populism and attributing “problematic behavior” to highly experienced researchers who carried out extensive work and reached a conclusion that is not accepted as is.

“The President said that there are responsibilities and that blame is being placed on those who constantly raise various concerns online and attack the institutions, and that they are more to blame rather than the institutions themselves for their actions and omissions, rather than the institutions themselves for their actions and omissions. He also commented on immunity, stating that it does not exist.”

READ ALSO: “Everyone is lying except him”: AKEL’s initial reaction to Anastasiades’ press conference

Lawyer Achilleas Dimitriadis spoke of Mr. Anastasiades’ “categorical opposition” to the allegations made against him by the Anti-Corruption Authority, adopting a stance of complete rejection with the argument that “they didn’t listen to him enough and didn’t investigate everyone they should have.” He also accused the four-member Committee of a “lack of will to resist populism,” while taking aim at TikTokers and those who post online.

Mr. Dimitriadis assessed that Mr. Anastasiades had mistakenly presented his positions, as these will inevitably clash in public debate with the Commission’s findings, while the “clarification” must take place at the criminal, civil, and political levels.

“In the criminal sphere, he accepts both an independent investigator and an independent prosecutor. This is a very important point because we were discussing who would conduct the investigation, who we would exclude, whether we would exclude the prosecutor, who the prosecutor would be, and this has set the direction. He has clarified the issue of immunity—that there is none—and even if there were, I’m not interested in it; everything must be brought to light. And he said we should wrap this up quickly. The ball is now in the Cabinet’s court; tomorrow or the day after, it will appoint criminal investigators.”

READ ALSO: “They Did Not Stand Up to Populism”: Anastasiades Launches Fierce Attack on Committee Over “Mafia State” Findings

READ ALSO: LIVE: Anastasiades’s time to respond; he presents evidence and documents regarding “Mafia State”