Ex auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides said he had appealed to the European Court of Human Rights on Thursday over being fired, just hours after he told state TV that he was considering running for president in the 2028 elections.

In a post on X, Michaelides said he had filed an appeal with the ECHR against the Supreme Constitutional Court ruling of September 18 for his dismissal.

He said the ECHR did not act as an appeals court and would not try the case, but just examined whether there had been a violation of human rights.

The ECHR would focus on the right to a fair trial, the right to dignity and the freedom of speech and expression, he added.

Michaelides said lawyers Christos Clerides, Pambos Ioannides and Jo Triantafyllides were handling the case.

Speaking on CyBC on Wednesday evening, Michaelides said that, although it was early days, he was thinking and evaluating the possibility of running for president.

Criticising President Nikos Christodoulides, the ex auditor-general said that a shift in administration was necessary, the country was “rotten” and a change in the culture and way of thinking should come about, starting from the head.

Michaelides also said he was not interested in running for MP, especially with existing political parties.
The ex-official was fired in September, after the Supreme Constitutional Court found his conduct had been unbecoming and thus he was unfit for his duties.

Michaelides accused President Nikos Christodoulides and attorney-general George Savvides of “collusion” to ensure he was removed from his post.