Nicosia denies violence against Russian journalist

The foreign ministry is in touch with Moscow with regards to the arrest and alleged attack of a Russian journalist in Nicosia the previous day, diplomatic sources said on Friday.

Cyprus ambassador to Moscow Kypros Giorgallis was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry, reportedly spending about 20 minutes there before leaving without making any statements to Russian journalists.

The Cyprus News Agency reported that according to a source of the Russian state-owned agency RIA Novosti, the move is related to the arrest of a journalist from Russian Federation official government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta in Nicosia.

According to the same source, during the arrest “physical violence was used,” and the Russian journalist “injured his hand and needed to be hospitalised”.

The incident reportedly took place around 11.45 on Thursday while the journalist was in his car, which was parked next to the house where he lives with his family.

Cybc later reported that a person from the Russian embassy was also present, who was later released.

The Russian agency added that the reason behind the “unacceptable and provocative” action was not shared by Cypriot authorities.

According to Cybc, Nicosia rejected the allegations of violence against the journalist, saying he resisted arrest.

Diplomatic sources also added that the man is in the process of being deported due to visa issues, and that the foreign ministry is taking all necessary steps while handling the matter, and communicating with Moscow on a diplomatic level.