Cyprus government tightening the screws on media’s access to information

A leaked memorandum from the ministry of agriculture caused great consternation a couple of weeks ago.

In it, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou – whose portfolio also includes rural development and the environment – gave instructions that no employee, irrespective of rank, would henceforth be allowed to communicate with the media, except in writing and unless the statement was cleared by the minister’s press office, effectively placing her in charge of