Nicosia, Cyprus. Online activist Nicoletta Tsikkinis issued a 19-page response rejecting defamation allegations raised by the lawyers of first lady Philippa Karsera and said she will not delete or retract any of her social media posts.
Response sent to Karsera’s lawyer
The letter was sent on Tuesday to Karsera’s lawyer, Achilleas Emilianides, in reply to a demand that past Facebook posts be removed and a warning of possible legal action.
Claims of intimidation and free-expression protections
The response denies that any of the posts are defamatory and describes the initial legal warning as an attempt to intimidate and silence a critical voice in public discourse. It says Tsikkinis’ posts constitute political criticism and commentary on matters of public interest and fall within protections of freedom of expression.
Analysis of cited posts
Tsikkinis’ lawyers analysed each of the 13 posts cited by Karsera’s legal team, arguing that they either reproduce information already in the public domain or amount to value judgments, which they say are not actionable under defamation law.
Selective targeting and timing
The response raises concerns about selective targeting, saying legal action was directed solely at Tsikkinis despite widespread public reaction on social media following the publication of a controversial video relating to alleged corruption. It also states that the posts are not recent, with the most recent dating back to last June.
Broader political context and next steps
Tsikkinis’ lawyers placed the dispute within the broader political context of intense public debate, including her resignation from the social support agency. The letter concludes that any further legal action will be contested, and says Tsikkinis does not intend to withdraw posts her legal representatives describe as a legitimate exercise of free expression and public scrutiny of individuals holding power.
What impact could this dispute have on public debate and legal action over political speech on social media?
