The Union of Greek Prosecutors, following yesterday’s minutes of the Supreme Court prosecutor Konstantinos Tzavellas, in which he ruled that the phone tapping case brought by former deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Court Achilleas Zisis should not be withdrawn from the file, said in a statement, stresses that “the formulation of extreme characterizations, the adoption of undocumented complaints about alleged “institutional diversion”, “burial of files”, “judicial coup”, “zero hour for the Greek Justice” do not contribute to public dialogue or to effective institutional accountability.
In more detail, the statement of the SCE reads as follows:
“The Hellenic Union of Public Prosecutors is following with particular concern the intensity of public discourse that has been developing in recent times regarding recent judicial developments in a case of major public interest, especially after public statements that directly question the institutional functioning of prosecutorial authorities and, in particular, the leadership of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Supreme Court in the wiretapping case.
The formulation of extreme characterizations, the adoption of undocumented accusations of alleged “institutional diversion”, “burial of cases”, “judicial coup”, “zero hour for Greek justice” or other similar expressions, as well as the attribution of expediency to prosecutors, do not contribute to public dialogue or to effective institutional accountability. On the contrary, they foster a climate of devaluation of justice and unduly shake the confidence of citizens in the institutions of the rule of law.
Criticism of judicial decisions and actions is legitimate in a democratic state. However, this criticism must be measured and reasoned and must be exercised with sobriety, institutional responsibility and respect for the constitutionally guaranteed independence of the judiciary, without generalisations, derogatory characterisations or public interventions that attempt to prejudge or substitute for judicial judgment.
Greek prosecutors and judges exercise their duties in accordance with the Constitution, the laws and their conscience and will continue to do so, free from any external pressure or influence.
The protection of justice as the cornerstone of the rule of law is a collective responsibility of all. The Hellenic Union of Public Prosecutors calls on all institutional and public actors to show the necessary restraint so that public discourse does not become a factor in destabilizing the institutional trust of citizens.
As the Roman orator, politician, jurist and philosopher Cicero pointed out, “Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus” (“We are servants of the laws so that we may be free”). Institutional trust, respect for democratic institutions and responsible public attitudes are necessary conditions for the preservation of the rule of law.”
