Pafos Live 12 January 2026
Members of the Police (MMAD), as part of the targeted actions to prevent and combat crime, while they were on a motorized patrol in Limassol last night, located a suspicious vehicle parked on a city street.
As soon as the driver of the vehicle realized the presence of the Police, he started with the intention of escaping, however he was stopped nearby. From the examinations that followed, it was found that the driver of the vehicle was a 23-year-old man, who was arrested for the self-inflicted crime of reckless and dangerous driving.
In a check carried out inside the vehicle, a folding bat, harmful gas spray, a nylon package with a quantity of cocaine weighing about half a gram, a box of vials of anabolic steroids, a sum of money, two mobile phones, as well as two mobile phone cards were found and confiscated.
Subsequently, with the written consent of the 23-year-old, a search was carried out at his home, by members of the Anti-Drug Service, where 15 packages containing a quantity of cannabis, with a total weight of about one kilogram and 989 grams, were found carefully hidden.
As a result, the 23-year-old was re-arrested for the crime of illegal drug possession. The Anti-Drug Service (Limassol Unit) continues the examinations.
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Filenews
Authorities in Limassol were alerted after shots were fired at a hairdressing salon in Germasogeia. The area remains cordoned off and on-site examinations are being carried out.
According to the first information, this morning unknown perpetrators allegedly shot at the façade of the store.
Police officers rushed to the scene, who cordoned off the area, while examinations are being carried out to collect evidence. At the same time, material from security cameras in the area is being examined, with the aim of identifying the perpetrators.
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A strange case of the death of a high-ranking official of the Russian Embassy in Nicosia is under investigation by the Cypriot authorities.
According to information, the case began to unfold at noon last Thursday, when the man was found dead in his office. The competent Cypriot authorities, as it turns out, seem to have been informed about the incident a few hours late. Subsequently, when a police team arrived at the Embassy, they were not allowed to enter it, while the body of the Russian was handed over to them in the courtyard of the building.
Although the police asked to enter the building in order to conduct searches at the scene, i.e. the office of the dead man, the answer they received was negative. The only thing they were told was that the Russian's death occurred due to suicide, while as they were told, the gentleman also left a letter, which, however, was not handed over to the Cypriot authorities. The letter, according to the Embassy, will be sent to Moscow.
More answers are expected to be given by the legal autopsy that is expected to be performed today on the man's body.
It is noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of the incident, while it is closely monitored by the competent security services of the Republic of Cyprus.
Update - The legal autopsy was carried out on the body of the diplomat, at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nicosia, who was found dead in his office last Thursday.
According to information from the Police, his death was caused by hanging, while the procedures for the immediate repatriation of his body to Moscow are expected to begin.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Cyprus issued a statement about the death of an employee, describing his loss as a "deep personal tragedy". At the same time, he notes that the necessary steps are being done for the repatriation of his body.
"We regret to inform you that our colleague, Embassy employee A.V. Panov, passed away on January 8, 2026," it says.
"His death is a deeply personal tragedy for his family and friends. The family of the deceased was given all the necessary help and support," it added.
In cooperation with the competent Cypriot authorities, the Embassy notes that it is cooperating with the competent Cypriot authorities for the repatriation of his body to Russia.
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The dynamic and targeted preventive operations of the Police continued during last night, with an enhanced presence in key points of urban areas, with the aim of preventing serious criminal acts, protecting citizens and ensuring public order.
As part of these operations, the Police proceeded to arrest a total of seven persons on a nationwide basis.
In the Limassol district, members of the Police located a suspicious vehicle last night, which tried to escape control.
However, he was stopped by members of the Police and in the possession of the 23-year-old driver, a small amount of drugs was found, as well as a bat, spray for launching harmful gases, etc. [see earlier item above].
In a subsequent search of his home, 15 packages containing a quantity of cannabis weighing approximately one kilogram and 989 grams were found, as a result of which he was arrested.
Also, in the province of Limassol, four more persons were arrested, for offenses concerning:
- Carrying a knife, illegal possession of an offensive instrument.
- Illegal possession of property and traffic offenses.
- Assault on a police officer, resistance to legal arrest, threat, etc.
- An arrest warrant is pending for interfering in a judicial process.
Two more persons in the provinces of Larnaca and Paphos were located and arrested, after fine and non-appearance warrants were pending against them in court for a criminal case.
During the same night, extensive inspections were also carried out on a number of premises, with the aim of preventing and suppressing delinquent behaviours in a timely manner.
As regards the road network, more than 400 inspections were carried out, which resulted in more than 110 traffic complaints.
Of these, nine were related to driving under the influence of drugs, while in the context of investigating traffic offenses, 7 cars and a motorcycle were detained, while a stolen motorcycle was also found during the checks.
These operations are part of a broad, continuous and strengthened preventive plan of the Police, with an increased police presence, targeted controls and immediate operational action in all provinces, with the aim of preventing crime and strengthening the sense of security of citizens.
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The investigations of the Police and Civil Defense to locate the 56-year-old Russian businessman, whose traces were lost on January 7, were suspended yesterday.
According to the authorities, the heavy rains recorded in the Limassol province led early on to the interruption of the large-scale operation, which is expected to resume today with the first light of day.
Until the cessation of the investigations, strong police forces, members of the Limassol Search and Rescue Department of the Civil Defense, volunteers, as well as a helicopter and a drone participated in the operation. The weight of the searches had been given to western Limassol and specifically to the area of Pissouri, where the last location of the missing person's mobile phone was located.
As our website is informed, yesterday Saturday, searches were carried out in a specific steep area of Pissouri, under the coordination of the Head of the Limassol Search and Rescue Department, Michalis Mouskalis.
The disappearance of the 56-year-old was reported by an employee, who informed the authorities that he did not respond to her phone calls. She also testified to the Police about the clothing he was wearing the last time she saw him.
The missing man, Vladislav Baumgertner, 56, is described as about 1,90 meters tall, of slim build, with grey hair. On his departure, he allegedly wore black shorts and a black short-sleeved shirt. He has been absent from his place of residence in Limassol since 07/01/2026.
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The second poacher involved in the incident against the gamekeepers in Achelia on Friday night is still missing. Three days after the serious incident, this second man escapes arrest, while the 66-year-old who was arrested after a chase was brought before the Paphos District Court, which, however, did not approve the police request for his detention.
The second man wanted for the incident is, according to the Police, the one who turned the gun on the gamekeepers on Friday night. During the incident, members of the Game Service who were patrolling a rural area of Achelia, spotted two people shooting at a prey, holding a light.
The gamekeepers proceeded to check the two suspects, one of whom, according to the gamekeepers, pointed the gun at them and threatened them, before they fled.
Gamekeepers stopped one suspect, aged 66, while the second escaped. In the possession of the 66-year-old, 18 freshly killed pigeons were found, while at the place where the shots were fired, another freshly killed pigeon, two full flaubert cartridges and four empty flaubert cartridges were found.
