Presidential candidates Nikos Christodoulides and Andreas Mavroyiannis have so far declined an offer to receive police protection until the elections in February.

The proposal for police protection was approved by the cabinet, which led to the police’s risk assessment committee to review the matter – later granting the green light.

A police announcement on Tuesday said the police chief then contacted the two candidates and informed them of the proposal, to which neither initially objected – leading the matter again to cabinet, where it was approved.

The police subsequently informed the candidates of the update but both Christodoulides and Mavroyiannis said that they do not need police escorts right now.

That leaves the door open for police protection to be granted later on if requested.