Cannot connect to STM8S105 after setting ROP

[JSimo.6]

I have been developing a project around the STM8S105 and I've been able to read and write the program and data memory fine several times (so I know that my STLink and dev board work well). Today I set the read-out protection to do some testing and after that I have not been able to interact anymore with the chip. Nothing else has changed (software or hardware) and I cannot re-program the option byte (or perform any other action for that matter). All I get now is:

"Error : Cannot communicate with the device !

Check the SWIM cable connection and check all the needed pin connections on the SWIM connector."

(I am using STVP for programming the chips).

I have one more dev board with the same chip, but I won't try the same because if it gets bricked as well I will have no more to continue developing the project until I can obtain more chips.

Any ideas as to what happened? Is there a way to re-program the option bytes so I can clear the ROP?

[KRiaz.1]

If  you are using STVP then go to option byte  Select Read Out Protection OFF , select program in upper box and click program the current tab.