The president of Cyprus raises alarm after receiving death threat against his life: Investigation underway

The president of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides has reported a threat to his life from an unknown individual.

Christodoulides reportedly received a direct threatening message against his life through an SMS on his private line two days ago, Antenna TV claimed late on Saturday afternoon, with his guard raising measures in response to this security situation. 

According to the same sources, the unknown sender called on the President to direct specific action in an on-going criminal case or else.

Following this information, as Antenna says, relevant services held an urgent joint meeting and assessed whether the threat was credible, conducting relevant investigations and collecting a number of clues undergoing forensic testing.

The Presidential Guard was placed under alert, according to the report, and in coordination with other services, have raised protection around the President as security services are shifting through evidence and assessing the credibility of the threat.

Speaking on the issues, Christodoulides said; ‘I can confirm that such threats were made’, the President said himself, responding to questions as he was arriving at a Limassol event.

He underlined that he placed his complete trust in Cyprus Republic authorities to investigate the incident fully, but did not wish to disclose anything further.

‘I have nothing else to add, only my confirmation of the threats’, the President said as reporters persisted.

Security services are shifting through evidence and assessing the credibility of the threat, as protection around him has been raised.

Futher development on the matter indicate that the threat appears to be connected with a search in the cell of usurper of Greek-Cypriot properties Turkish Simon Mistriel Aykout, who is in custody in wing 10A of Central Prisons, over a large-scale misappropriation case in the occupied territories.

According to Philenews senior reporter Fanis Makrides, a police warrant to search Aykout’s cell was executed at 2:00 am on Friday by 50 officers and during the operation, a number of items were seized.

The same sources from competent individuals, link Friday’s operation to the threatening SMS sent by the unknown sender to the President and connected to an inmate at the correctional facility.

However, because the case that emerged is characterised as a matter of supreme national security, all officials continue to maintain an appropriate stance.

A television, a mobile phone and a personal agenda were taken from the 74-year-old defendant’s cell.