The Embassy of Ukraine in Cyprus refuted claims that President Zelenskyy owns a casino resort in the occupied north, calling it a lie spread by Russian propaganda. The embassy emphasized that there is no evidence to support the allegations and warned against trusting unreliable sources and manipulations.
Cyprus has investigated allegations that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was involved in purchasing a casino resort in the occupied north but found no evidence to support the claims. The reports linking Zelenskyy to the offshore firm and the purchase of the Vuni Palace Hotel and Casino in Kyrenia were dismissed as fake news by the Russian “GnidaProject” research institute. The Cyprus Investigative Reporting Network (CIReN) also pointed out that the website used as a source for the allegations was fake, created just days before the claims were made.
Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector Halil Karapaşaoğlu was sentenced to three days in prison for refusing to pay a fine related to his mobilisation call. This is his second trial in the occupied north for defying the call-up, with his initial declaration of conscientious objection in 2013 leading to military court trials until 2019. Despite receiving a fine in 2019, his refusal to pay resulted in a 20-day prison sentence, later reduced to three nights and four days by a higher court. Critics, such as Murat Kanatlı, have condemned the ruling, pointing out the officials’ hypocrisy in advocating for human rights in European forums but failing to implement relevant ECHR decisions domestically. Karapaşaoğlu’s lawyer, Öncel Pili, has pledged to continue fighting for conscientious objector rights despite the imprisonment.
Animal producers in the occupied north are in the eighth day of their protests, supported by unions, civil society organizations, and political parties. The protests gained momentum despite a government decree postponing a planned strike by the Air Traffic Controllers’ Union. The producers are demanding affordable, domestic meat and criticizing the government for importing frozen meat. Union leaders accused the administration of neglecting the people’s needs and prioritizing special interests. The protesters are calling for the government to resign and are emphasizing the importance of supporting domestic producers and the economy.