The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal lodged against a court decision nullifying the election of Savvas Savva to the post of Alassa community leader, it said on Tuesday.

On October 9, a lower court nullified Savva’s election after his rival Emilios Tofallis had taken the case to court, saying Savva was not a permanent resident of the community.

On October 13, residents had protested the court decision, cutting off the Limassol-Platres road near Alassa.

The Supreme Court dismissed the reasons of the appeal lodged by Limassol district returning officer Electra Panayiotou, on instructions of the Law Office.

Savva told the Cyprus News Agency that he respected the decisions of the court, however he said it was the voters who should decide on their leaders.

“I don’t think the courts can appoint community leaders, but the voters […] The interior ministry and the chief returning officer should understand this,” he said.

He added that it would be fairer for new elections to be held.

Panayiotou said the court decision was being studied and the interior ministry had asked for an opinion from the Law Office before deciding on the next steps.