Russia filed an official protestation to Cyprus after a Russian journalist was arrested in Nicosia. Cypriot ambassador to Moscow Kypros Yiorgallis was called to the foreign ministry for clarifications. According to Russian media, he remained there for 20 minutes and left without comments to a number of crews that had gathered outside.
According to a well informed source at Russian agency Ria Novosti, cited by CNA, the representation was connected with the violent, as reported, arrest, of a journalist working for government controlled newspaper ‘Rossitskayia Gazietta’ in the Cyprus capital. The same source claims that physical force was exercised by authorities during the arrest and the journalist is now being treated for an arm injury.
The incident occurred just before noon, while the journalist was in his car outside the private home where he is currently residing with his family.
The Russian agency further notes that the ‘reason for the arrest has yet to be made public’, while not clarifying if the incident happened today, causing an immediate response from the Russian foreign ministry, or whether it took place recently.
