Dialogos

Silence Falls on Calls for Immediate Deportations in Cyprus

Published January 24, 2026, 09:01
Silence Falls on Calls for Immediate Deportations in Cyprus

Following the arrests of Greek Cypriots involved in criminal activities, a notable silence has fallen from political figures who initially demanded the immediate deportation of foreign criminals. Members of Parliament, Andreas Apostolou and Sotiris Ioannou, who were among the first to call for deportations, have not made public statements since the new arrests. This is interpreted as a shift away from blaming foreigners exclusively, as the organized crime in Cyprus is known to have deep roots and involve locals. A mapping of the organized crime has already been presented in the Parliament. This silence is attributed to the desire of some politicians to avoid backlash from the far-right wing, which initially supported the deportations.