arrest

AG denies corruption charges

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AG denies corruption charges

Attorney General George Savvides denied corruption charges after being accused by lawyer Efstathios Efstathiou of protecting Russian oligarch Oleg Boyko. Efstathiou claimed that 3.4 million worth of shares were stolen from his client, Ilya Alekseevitch Surkov, and illegally transferred to Boyko through Cyprus-registered companies. Boyko allegedly used false representations to transfer shares from Orlando Heights Ltd in Greencat Services Ltd to his company Finstroy Ltd, resulting in him holding 80% of the assets Orlando Heights had in Moscow’s Altufievo Mall. Criminal charges against Boyko were dropped due to insufficient witness material for prosecution in Cyprus. Efstathiou filed three complaints to the anti-corruption authority, which found no evidence of corruption. Boyko was subject to a Red Notice international arrest warrant but avoided questioning for four years until the warrant was scrapped. A private lawsuit filed by Efstathiou was also suspended by the AG. Surkov, who has a Greek passport and was wanted in Russia for alleged fraud, was granted political asylum in the UK. Boyko had been sanctioned by Canada and Australia but had the Canadian sanctions lifted following a lawsuit. The US Senate Intelligence Committee reported Boyko had ties to the Russian state and criminality.

People smuggler gets harshest sentence

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People smuggler gets harshest sentence

Cyprus authorities have handed down the harshest penalty to date for migrant trafficking, with a smuggler receiving a five-year prison sentence for bringing over 100 migrants from Syria and Lebanon. Another smuggler is facing a tougher sentence, including a charge of manslaughter, after a three-year-old girl died during a rescue operation. The convicted individual admitted to assisting migrants in unlawfully entering Cyprus for financial gain and was found to be part of an international ring engaged in migrant smuggling. The ill-fated journey of the boat involved in the case started from Lebanon without proper navigation tools and with insufficient fuel, leading to the engine failure and the migrants being adrift at sea.

Migrant child dies in hospital

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Migrant child dies in hospital

A three-year-old girl died after being rescued from a small boat off the coast of Cyprus. Two other children are in critical condition. The children were found unconscious on the boat along with 55 other individuals. The boat had departed from Lebanon and those on board were believed to be Syrian nationals. A 47-year-old individual believed to be in charge of the smuggling operation was arrested. The Interior Minister called for Syria to be designated as a safe country to prevent nationals from seeking asylum or refuge. The President of Cyprus emphasized the need for collaboration with Europol and Lebanon’s authorities to monitor borders and restrict the influx of irregular migrants. Cyprus has implemented measures that have resulted in a decline in the number of migrants arriving in the country.

Three French police officers given suspended jail terms for excessive force during 2017 arrest

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Three French police officers given suspended jail terms for excessive force during 2017 arrest

Three French police officers have been given suspended jail sentences for using excessive force during the arrest of a young Black man in 2017. The arrest of Theodore Luhaka in a Paris suburb sparked protests and brought the French police under scrutiny for racism and violent misconduct. One officer was sentenced to one year suspended prison for beating Luhaka and causing serious injuries, while two other officers were given three-month suspended sentences for their involvement. The officers were also banned from working as police officers in the public space for a certain period of time. Luhaka’s lawyer considered the decision a victory, but protesters called for the officers to serve prison time. Defense lawyers argued that the use of force by the officers was legitimate, necessary, and proportionate. The prosecutor had sought longer suspended prison sentences for the officers.

Russia banned Cypriot officials from entering the country due to expulsion of Gasiuk and Doinikov

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Russia banned Cypriot officials from entering the country due to expulsion of Gasiuk and Doinikov

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a ban on entry into the country for officials of the Republic of Cyprus who are connected to the revocation of accreditation and deportation of a Russian government newspaper correspondent from Cyprus last fall. The ban is in response to "unacceptable" actions by Cypriot authorities in October 2023 against Alexander Gasiuk, the correspondent for "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" accredited in Nicosia, and D. Doinikov, a staff member of the Russian embassy in Cyprus. The ban is based on Federal Law No. 114-FZ of August 15, 1996, regarding the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation. The ban applies to three officials of the Ministry of Interior of Cyprus, according to diplomatic sources. The Russian reaction, after three and a half months, expresses Moscow's willingness to defuse the crisis with a planned and appropriate response, rather than escalate it. In October of last year, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had protested in strong terms against the "unacceptable and provocative actions of the Cypriot authorities," claiming that the Cypriot secret services had attempted to arrest the Russian journalist using brute force for subsequent deportation, under the pretext of revoking his residence permit on the grounds of "threatening national security."

Russian court sentences Navalny ally in Siberia to 9.5 years in prison

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Russian court sentences Navalny ally in Siberia to 9.5 years in prison

A Russian court has sentenced Ksenia Fadeyeva, an ally of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, to nine and a half years in prison for running an “extremist organization.” Fadeyeva, who served as a local lawmaker and former head of Navalny’s anti-corruption organization, will appeal the sentence. Navalny’s organization was designated “extremist” in 2021, leading to a ban and harsh penalties for its members. Navalny himself is serving multiple prison sentences and has been transferred to a penal colony. The Russian authorities view Navalny and his supporters as extremists seeking to destabilize Russia.

21-year-old re-arrested in connection with attempted murder case

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21-year-old re-arrested in connection with attempted murder case

Fact: A 21-year-old individual has been arrested and detained in connection with an attempted murder case involving a 36-year-old. The arrest was based on witness testimonies and evidence found at the scene of the incident. The victim was transported to the hospital with injuries from a stabbing and is currently in stable condition. Investigations are ongoing.