Justice ministry says it won’t be drawn on firearm debate
The justice ministry on Saturday said it did not wish to enter a public debate as to who has been granted permission to carry firearms, citing public safety.
The ministry was responding to a report in daily Politis that the decision this week to reduce the number of politicians’ police guards led to the revocation of gun licences from politicians, who had declared themselves as special police officers so that they could carry firearms.
Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis told Alpha TV on Friday that this was misinformation since, as far as she knew, her ministry had not granted such permits or recently revoked any, at least not during her stint.
Politis responded with another article in which it cites a top secret letter sent by the justice ministry to parliament in January this year which states that 55 permits to carry firearms were in effect, seven of which concern former or existing political persons. The letter reportedly said that 47 new such permits were issued during the past five years.
“Why didn’t she ask her predecessor and current attorney-general?” the daily asked. Citing the same sources, the paper reports that firearm licences for some political persons have been revoked.
Cabinet on Thursday approved reassigning 21 of the 56 police officers currently charged with working as guards for politicians, to patrol the old part of Nicosia.
Main opposition Akel this week called for more information concerning which persons, political and not, were given permits by the justice minister to carry a weapon and based on what criteria.
The ministry on Saturday said that this issue should not be associated with the issue of reducing the guard of politicians and former state officials, as there was no such connection.
“Any discussion on such a sensitive issue concerning public safety is not productive and is harmful,” the justice ministry said on Saturday in a written statement. “Permit to carry firearms may be granted “to address an existing and particularly serious risk to human life.”
The ministry said it did not intend to further pursue the matter.