Filenews 21 December 2022 - by Natasha Christoforou
Russians, holding flags of their country as well as banners, hold a protest event at the Larnaca Court, on the occasion of the opening of the hearing of the 55-year-old from Ukraine. The defendant last August threatened Russians with a knife, who were celebrating the national anniversary of their flag in Larnaca.
In the Court, draconian security measures were taken by the Police, in fear of incidents.
The 55-year-old faces 7 counts of common assault, carrying a knife, drunkenness, restlessness, peace-disturbing behavior and carrying weapons to incite terror. To five of them (apart from drunkenness and anxiety) has been added an article of the Law on Combating Certain Forms of Racism and Xenophobia.
It is recalled that the incident occurred on the evening of Monday, August 22, opposite the Holy Church of Panagia Faneromeni. A group of twenty Russians had gathered in an open space, aiming to celebrate the creation of the Russian flag.
At one point, the 55-year-old Ukrainian woman came down from an apartment building in the area, holding a large knife, which she pointed out against them. The woman, who was intoxicated, made threats against the Russians because of the invasion of her country and at one point moved against them, as shown in a video circulated on Social Media. At the spot were members of the Police, who with the help of civilians managed to immobilize and immediately disarm the woman.
The incident had provoked strong reactions from Moscow, which through public statements by the official representative of the country's Foreign Minister, Maria Zakharova, spoke of a terrorist act, calling on the Cypriot authorities to "protect Russian nationals".
