By Vasos Vasou
Larnaca police are investigating an attempted abduction of a 51-year-old Ukrainian businessman in the Oroklini tourist area, in a case that may carry political dimensions.
The man reported to police on Thursday evening, 20 November, that three unknown individuals attacked him and tried, using force, to push him into a commercial vehicle.
Officers rushed to the scene, where they located the 51-year-old, who lives in the area with his 36-year-old partner and her 72-year-old father. He told police that he had noticed a commercial vehicle parked a short distance from his home, with three people inside, and that it had raised his suspicions.
He and the 72-year-old went outside to approach the vehicle and ask the occupants what they were doing there. As they neared the van, the three unknown men, whose faces were covered with surgical masks, allegedly attacked them and attempted to force the 51-year-old into the vehicle.
The two men resisted and the assailants fled on foot, abandoning the vehicle at the scene. Both the 51-year-old and the 72-year-old sustained minor injuries.
Abandoned van, fake plates and a pistol
Subsequent checks showed that the licence plates on the commercial vehicle belonged to another car. Inside, officers found and seized a pistol with an empty magazine, as well as other items which have been sent for forensic examination.
Police are now trying to establish the real purpose of the three suspects’ presence in the area and whether the incident was an attempted kidnapping or part of a broader plan. The 51-year-old businessman has given a full statement, the contents of which are being examined, and has reportedly told investigators he has no disputes with anyone.
Political motives under scrutiny
According to information, the 51-year-old told police that he previously served as a minister in the Ukrainian government. This claim has added further complexity to the case.
Investigators are not ruling out the possibility that the attempted abduction may have been politically motivated and are examining this scenario as part of their inquiries.