In recent years in Cyprus, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, cases of Greek Cypriots collaborating with Russian intelligence services have become more frequent. These people, under the guise of patriotism and adherence to traditional values, actually act as agents of influence, promoting Russian interests and undermining the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus from within. For a certain fee, they spread disinformation, influence public opinion, and facilitate the activities of Russian intelligence structures.
The cooperation of agents with foreign countries is not a new practice for Cyprus. Back during the Cold War, the island, due to its strategically important position, became one of the key territories where the Soviet intelligence services — KGB and GRU — operated. For decades, the Soviet Union sought to destabilize NATO’s southeastern flank, using the Cyprus problem as a tool to weaken the West. In many ways, it was the USSR that played an important role in the emergence of the Cyprus problem, exploiting the differences between Greece and Cyprus for its geopolitical interests.
The collapse of the Soviet Union and Vladimir Putin’s rise to power have not only weakened the influence of Russian security services on the island, but on the contrary, they have created new opportunities for them. The massive inflow of Russian money into Cyprus in the 1990s and 2000s, offshore schemes, and a massive influx of Russian citizens all expanded the agent base and allowed Moscow to re-energize its activities. Recruitment of locals, as it was practiced in the Soviet years, has once again become a standard practice of Russian intelligence structures.
Today, Russian intelligence agencies, following their global strategy of hybrid warfare, use their agents to disseminate propaganda, gather intelligence, and exert malicious influence on public opinion. Moscow uses both «soft power» — financial, media, and cultural tools of influence — and harder methods — military invasions, and destabilization of political situation in different countries. Since 2008, Russia has resorted to a forceful scenario, occupying part of Georgia’s territory, and since 2014 it has launched a war against Ukraine, which has developed into a full-scale invasion in 2022. As part of this policy, Cyprus is also seen by the Kremlin as a territory for hybrid warfare and intelligence activities.
A spy thriller on the outskirts of Nicosia
In recent years, a story has been unfolding on the outskirts of Nicosia that resembles the scenario of a spy thriller. According to sources with whom our editorial board spoke, a certain Greek Cypriot long noticed to have ties with the Russian intelligence services, is actively involved in activities aimed at promoting Russian malign influence in Cyprus.
This person has been repeatedly seen in contact with Russian intelligence officers operating in Cyprus under diplomatic cover.
In addition, he has close ties to Russian state institutions such as the Russian Embassy in Cyprus and the «Russian Cultural Center» in Nicosia (RCC). The RCC is not a cultural institution, but an agent center of the Russian secret services, which for many years has been used by Russia to destabilize the socio-political situation in the country and to spread malicious influence on Cypriot society.
Our interlocutors said that this man works illegally in the security of the RCC, receiving his salary in «black cash», without official employment, taxes, and social contributions. However, this is not an isolated case: this practice is widespread in the «Russian Cultural Center».
Agent of influence and Russian propaganda
This recruited agent of the Russian security services and his wife, a native of one of the Turkic-speaking republics of the former Soviet Union, have extensive contacts among Cypriots from various walks of life. Using these contacts, they systematically promote Russian propaganda, receiving instructions and methodologies from the RCC.
The set of arguments of Russian propaganda has long been known: the myth of traditional values, justification of persecution of the LGBT community, the idea of a «common Orthodox faith», as well as statements about the «historical connection» between Cyprus and Russia. In practice, this connection is a myth created by the Russian state machine to justify its presence and influence on the island.
This agent is often tasked with public speaking engagements in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For this purpose, he is being provided pre-written texts in Greek, which he reads out in front of the cameras at pro-Russian events organized by the Russian Embassy and the RCC. These materials are then distributed through Cypriot TV channels, often paid for by Russian structures. As a result, thousands of Cypriots are exposed to Russian propaganda.
Links with the occupied territories
Despite his pseudo-patriotic rhetoric, this agent of the Russian security services regularly visits the occupied territories of Cyprus. There, he actively interacts with Russian propagandists who advocate strengthening ties between Russia and the self-proclaimed «TRNC».
One of our interlocutors said that once during the opening of the Russian consular representation in the occupied territory he asked this agent a direct question:
— Why do you, a Cypriot citizen, support the development of Russia’s relations with the so-called «TRNC» when Moscow openly violates the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus by opening its consulate there?
In response, the man started shouting and showing aggression. Such reactions are typical of Russian propaganda agents: Cypriots who oppose Putin’s policies and Russian interference often face attacks from fellow citizens recruited by the Kremlin.
Cyprus is in Moscow’s crosshairs
According to our sources, there are dozens, and possibly hundreds, of Cypriots, recruited as agents of Russian influence in Cyprus. Under the guise of patriotism and love for their homeland, they actually serve Russian interests. For money, they promote the interests of the Russian security services, helping to strengthen the position of the Russian government, its oligarchs, and their geopolitical interests in the region.
As Cyprus seeks a more significant geopolitical role in the Eastern Mediterranean and the West, Russian structures continue influencing the country’s domestic politics. This influence poses a serious challenge to the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and countering it is becoming an increasingly important task.
Victor Kostenko