The final farewell to former President of the Republic George Vassiliou, the case surrounding the death of a Russian employee at the Russian embassy, public criticism and legal action, efforts to rally support within DISY, and deaths linked to flu-related incidents dominate the front pages of the Cypriot press on Saturday. The headlines also focus on everyday issues, including water shortages, concerns affecting pensioners, and allegations from Ayia Napa of labour and sexual exploitation.
Alithia leads with the headline “They branded criticism as defamation and toxicity”, referring to what it describes as attempts to silence dissent through “legal attacks” over past social media posts. In another report, the newspaper focuses on the case of the Russian man found dead at the Russian embassy in Nicosia, highlighting his high-level connections and reports that he had communicated even with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Elsewhere, it refers to escalating tensions in the Middle East, describing Donald Trump as being “with his finger on the trigger” towards Iran.
“Unity kick-off breakfast” is the main headline in Politis, which covers DISY’s efforts to rally party unity ahead of the parliamentary elections. The paper reports that party leader Annita Demetriou hosted a working breakfast attended by former party leaders Nicos Anastasiades and Averof Neophytou. The newspaper also covers the case of the Russian national found dead, describing him as a “cyber-espionage agent”. In addition, it features coverage of the final farewell to former President George Vassiliou, noting that Cyprus is bidding him farewell with gratitude and that his body lay in state in the presence of the political leadership.
Phileleftheros headlines its main story “All on alert over flu”, reporting that the health system is on high alert due to a severe surge in viral infections. Another report focuses on water scarcity, with water reserves described as “in the red” and dam levels standing at a critical 10.8 per cent. This has led to a briefing of the President and the activation of an emergency plan involving floating desalination units and mobile facilities. The front page also highlights the issue of land sales to foreign nationals.
“Farewell with the pain of reunification unfulfilled” is the headline under which Haravgi runs its main story, referring to the funeral of former President George Vassiliou, which is being held with full state honours. At the same time, the newspaper reports on shocking allegations from Ayia Napa involving labour and sexual exploitation, with trade union and women’s organisations (PEO and POGO) calling for an immediate investigation. Elsewhere, it highlights the difficult economic conditions facing pensioners, describing their income as “poverty-level pensions”.
The English-language Cyprus Mail, under the headline “ ‘Suicide’ at embassy raises questions”, reports on the death of a Russian embassy employee who was found hanged. It writes that the case has attracted international interest, as investigative reports link the individual to intelligence services and encryption work. The newspaper adds that Cypriot police encountered obstacles in the investigation due to being denied access to the embassy building. In other coverage, the paper reports on a visit by European Commissioners to the Green Line. It also notes that Cyprus ranks among the worst-performing EU countries in terms of the use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation.