The head of Cyprus’s real estate regulator got serious threats. Police think they are from organized crime. These threats try to stop a professional investigation. This happened at the same time as a fire attack. Luxury cars burned in Limassol. This makes people worry about crime hurting businesses.
Marinos Kynegirou leads the Real Estate Agents Registration Council. He told the police about the threats. He got messages since June. They started again in early December. The messages wanted him to stop a complaint. This complaint was against a real estate agent. The agent is investigated for selling property in northern Cyprus. This area is not controlled by the government. The agent also organized wrong payments. Kynegirou was warned not to join council elections.
This is a clear attempt to control a government group. Police are investigating at a high level. The Interior Minister is also involved. The case shows criminals want to control professional groups. The council’s complaint was a normal process. Therefore, the criminal threats are very worrying.
In Limassol, three expensive cars were burned on December 9. The cars belonged to a Russian businessman. Police think the fire was deliberate. It might be to pressure business owners. This attack is like others before. Criminals use these tactics again and again.
These events together are bad for Cyprus’s economy. Threatening an official hurts public trust. It can make regulators scared to act. The car fire shows criminals use violence. Both cases are being investigated.
These events can affect more than just the problems. They test how well Cyprus protects its rules. They also test business safety. The real estate council has elections. It also has the agent’s case. The government must protect its groups from crime. The business world is watching closely. They want to see how the government handles this challenge.