Police question 27 over election-day social media posts

Police have begun questioning 27 people over more than 100 social media posts and advertisements allegedly linked to May’s parliamentary elections and published during a period when election-related campaigning was prohibited. The investigation follows 127 complaints concerning paid advertisements and unpaid posts published either on the eve of the election or polling day, acting chief electoral officer Menelaos Vasiliou told the Cyprus News Agency. Among those being questioned is Opek president Theano Kalavana, whose summons to police prompted a strong reaction. Police spokesman Vyron Vyronos said officers received instructions from the attorney-general’s office five days ago and have begun taking statements. “More than 100 posts were identified which, at first sight, are linked to 27 people,” he said, adding that police were calling those involved to give statements and be questioned. “Among them is Theano Kalavana, who was the only one who reacted strongly.” The investigation concerns the prohibition on election-related posts during the day before an election and on polling day. Vasiliou said the Press and Information Office had monitored social media during the parliamentary elections and subsequently forwarded its findings to the interior ministry. The ministry sent the material to the attorney-general’s office on September 1 after determining that some cases appeared, at first sight, to constitute breaches of electoral legislation. He stressed that the law does not distinguish between candidates, politicians and ordinary citizens. “The law says that on the eve of the election and on polling day no person is permitted to make any post or broadcast any news or advertisement which has a direct or indirect connection with the elections, whether paid or unpaid,” he said. The provision is contained in Article 63(b) of the law governing elections to the House of Representatives. Asked specifically about Kalavana’s case, he said the post under investigation had been published on the eve of the parliamentary elections and remained available on her social media page. Kalavana has argued that she had expressed her opinion as an ordinary citizen. Vasiliou said this did not affect the application of the provision. “The law does not distinguish between candidates and ordinary citizens,” he said. “The criterion under the law is whether there is any direct or indirect connection with the elections.” He added that Kalavana was far from the only non-candidate whose activity had been flagged, saying five of the cases concerned people who were not election candidates. Vasiliou said similar cases had been examined following the 2024 elections and that, as before every election, the chief electoral officer had issued announcements ahead of this year’s vote explaining the restrictions. A team has also been established at the Press and Information Office to monitor social media. The attorney-general’s office subsequently decided that the cases should be referred to police to investigate whether criminal offences had been committed. A conviction can carry a sentence of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to €5,000, or both, Vasiliou said. Vyronos said that once police complete their questioning and investigation, the files will be returned to the attorney-general’s office for further instructions. Asked which political parties or groups the people under investigation were associated with, he declined to provide details. “There is a law and we must abide by it. Laws apply to everyone,” he said. Vasiliou also distinguished the investigation from complaints concerning political messages sent directly to individuals during the same period, saying issues involving personal data were being dealt with separately by the commissioner for personal data protection.