The tangle of criminal actions, which have caused a headache for the Police in recent months, led to an extensive investigation by the Sub-Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, which opened the dance of arrests, against the background of the action of a criminal organization in Cyprus.
At the center of the investigations was an organized crime network, which, according to the findings of the Police, is linked to a series of arsons, shootings and extortion that took place in Limassol. Investigators are focusing on the action of the organization, the leader of which is said to be a wanted man who lives in Dubai and, according to Police data, has developed strong ties with criminal networks in Cyprus.
He, as the authorities claim, is the person behind the instructions to the members of the criminal group in Cyprus to blackmail and threaten businessmen, with the aim of extorting large sums of money.
For the criminal actions that have caused a headache in the Limassol Police Department, extensive reference has been made to the publications of Filenews. In fact, in recent months, the 40-year-old Russian businessman, a close associate of the murdered Stavros Demosthenous, has been at the center of the attacks, with the persons allegedly behind the actions pressuring him to pay money for "protection".
Indicatively, the investigative team investigating the action of the criminal organization, after the arrest of a 50-year-old woman and a 49-year-old man, found that a series of criminal acts were committed in Limassol and seem to be connected to people of the wanted person's criminal organization.
>>These are threats and arson at a betting company operating in Limassol. The company was reportedly threatened and blackmailed by members of a criminal organization, with the aim of extorting large sums of money for "protection". The company did not succumb to blackmail, as a result of which a series of criminal actions followed. On 12/01/2025, there were two arsons of vehicles in Polemidia, as well as two other arsons in the center of Limassol, which belonged to the company in question. On 07/02/2025 there were shots fired at the company's offices in the center of Limassol, while on 05/06/2025 new shots were recorded at its offices on Agiou Andreou Street.
>>Threats and arson are recorded in a second company, from which shares were allegedly requested. After the company's refusal, two luxury vehicles were set on fire, which were completely destroyed. This was followed by threatening phone calls to the director of the company from members of the criminal organization, with the authorities claiming that among them, a call was allegedly made by the 49-year-old suspect.
>>Threats and successive arsons are recorded against a 40-year-old foreign businessman who lives in Limassol, a friend and associate of the murdered Stavros Demosthenous. The cases concern the arson of four luxury vehicles, the arson of three more luxury vehicles as well as the arson of a liquor store owned by him.
>>Threats and shooting at a hotel in Limassol are recorded. On 01/01/2026, shots were fired at a hotel in the city center, while the 49-year-old suspect allegedly demanded the payment of an extortionate sum of €20 million.
>>Attempted murder of a Ukrainian in a hotel complex on 29/09/2025, with the 49-year-old suspect allegedly demanding payment of €500.000 for "protection", which the Ukrainian refused to pay. On 12/01/2025, shots were fired at a company linked to the wife of the person in question, while a shooting attack was also recorded in a hairdressing salon in Limassol, with the aim of intimidating a witness in the case of attempted murder.
The above criminal actions seem to be consistent with the way this criminal group acted, according to the Police and the evidence they have. This evidence was presented before the Nicosia Court, during the procedure for the couple's detention application from Greece. It is noted, however, that some of the complainants in the cases refused to name in writing the persons who threatened them, expressing fears for their physical integrity and the safety of their family members.
It is recalled that the investigative team, which is investigating the action of the criminal organization, has proceeded to arrest the 50-year-old woman and her 49-year-old husband, against whom offenses related to participation in a criminal organization and money laundering are being investigated.
