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world23h ago
Russian hanged in Cyprus embassy ‘was GRU spy who may have been about to DEFECT’
The-sun.com and 1 more
- Cyprus is investigating the apparent death of Russian diplomat Alexei Panov at the Moscow embassy, treating it as an unnatural death likely a suicide, as authorities seek to understand the circumstances.
- Panov’s death follows the disappearance of oligarch Vladislav Baumgertner, with Cypriot authorities expanding the search to include British sovereign base areas as the case unfolds.
- Cyprus has pivoted toward the West under President Christodoulides, backing Ukraine since the 2022 invasion and strengthening ties with the U.S., while grappling with domestic corruption allegations.
- Cyprus is contending with a corruption video triggering top-level resignations, described by officials as malicious and characteristic of hybrid attacks linked to Russia.
- Cyprus suspended access investigations amid heightened scrutiny of how Russian interests influence Cypriot politics, with officials denying links between the corruption video and Panov’s death.
- The Russian embassy in Cyprus initially refused to hand over Panov's suicide note or grant access to the crime scene, complicating the investigation.
- Experts suggest Panov, once an officer in Moscow's GRU, could have had defection motives, a possibility discussed by Cypriot insiders and independent researchers.
- Cyprus, hosting the EU presidency, faces scrutiny over transparency and the alleged 'kompromat' video as it recalibrates its stance toward Western allies.
- The Guardian article situates Cyprus as a longtime Russian refuge, nicknamed 'Moscow on the Med,' while navigating a broader Western alignment shift.
- Cyprus’s EU presidency and domestic upheavals underscore a pivotal moment as officials manage security concerns surrounding Russian intelligence ties.
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