-NO SOUND-
19/4/1978
Cyprus: Alleged Conspirators Remanded For Trial. 1978
Background: In Cyprus, 17 men and a woman have appeared in court charged with armed conspiracy against the Government.
SYNOPSIS: The court hearing took place in Nicosia on Monday (17 April). It was the result of arrests that had taken place in Limassol and Larnaca during the prior two weeks. Among those arrested was Vassos Pavlidws, also known by his alias-«the doctor»-because he studied medicine in his youth. Vassos Pavlides’ fiance-Ahdroula Neocleous was also arrested on charges of possession of a pistol. Other charges against the 18 people included espionage. Police said when Pavlides was arrested that he was preparing attacks against political personalities and foreign officials.
All told, 23 people were taken into police custody. Among them were members of the Greek Cypriot National Guard. A spokesman for the Cyprus Government said the arrests have broken up the organisational entity of a conspiracy. Also, President Kyprianou said that there was a possibility that what he called ‘quarters outside Cyprus’ were inciting anti-state activities.
A Government spokesman said the Government had received information that the alleged conspirators had been in contact with non-cypriot circles although he didn’t identify them. It was Vassos Pavlides who led the gang which last December Kidnapped Achilleas Kyprianou the President’s 21 year old son. Pavlides was granted immunity from prosecution on condition the President’s son was released unharmed. All who appeared in court on Monday were remanded in custody for eight days to appear in court again.
18/9/1978
Cyprus: Armed Convicts With Hostages Prompt Call-Out Of National Guards After Break-Out Bid From Nicosia’s Central Prison.
In Cyprus a government spokesman said on Monday (18 September) that three more prisoners in Nicosia’s central prison have joined those who seized hostages in a break-out on Saturday (16 September)
SYNOPSIS: Following the attempt a huge security cordon of national guardsmen with armoured cars and machine gums was thrown around the prison, blocking all roads into the area.
After smuggling the gun to Pavlides his fiancee, Androula Neocleous, remained with the prisoners. President Kyprianou pardoned Pavlides and others for the four-day abduction of his son last December, but Pavlides was arrested in April on charges on conspiracy against the state and remanded in custody. His fiancee was on bail awaiting trial on similar charges. Among the national guardsmen manning the roadblocks around the jail on Monday was the President’s son, Achilleas Kyprianou.
Background: In Cyprus a government spokesman said on Monday (18 September) that three more prisoners in Nicosia’s central prison have joined those who seized hostages in a break-out on Saturday (16 September)
SYNOPSIS: Following the attempt a huge security cordon of national guardsmen with armoured cars and machine gums was thrown around the prison, blocking all roads into the area. Later police identified the ringleader as Vassos Pavlides — also know as Yatros — who masterminded last year’s kidnapping of Cyprus President Spyros Kyprianou’s son Achilleas.
The Government says Pavlides tried to escape with five other convicts after receiving a pistol smuggled into the prison by his fiancee. Her brother, Christodoulou Neocleous, is among the prisoners holding the hostages.
The prisoners are reported to be supporters of the extreme right-wing organisation «Eoka B». On Monday fresh attempts were being made to persuade them to surrender and President Kyprianou said that he would not bow to their demands to be allowed to leave Cyprus. Official sources said that they have been refused food and cigarettes but have been given water–and the government has warned that anyone acting suspiciously inside or outside
20/9/1978
Cyprus Hostages At Nicosia’s Central Prison Released
Nine armed prisoners and a woman holding hostages in Nicosia’s Central Prison, surrendered to prison authorities on Tuesday, (19 September). The prisoners gave up their weapons and freed the hostages, four prison guards and three policemen, who they have held since an abortive escape attempt on Saturday (16 September). All the prisoners are closely connected to the recently disbanded extreme right-wing Eoka B organisation. The ring-leader, who police identified as Vassos Pavlides, master-minded last year’s kidnapping of Cypriot President Sypros Kyrianou’s son, Achilleas.
SYNOPSIS: Government officials arrived at the Central Prison in Nicosia early Tuesday morning, as relatives and police continued their vigil outside. Several hours later, the seven hostages were released. They had not eaten since the incident began and appeared to be exhausted. The prisoners had been demanding safe passage from Cyprus, after taking the hostages using a pistol smuggled in by ring-leader Vessos Pavlide’s fiancee. The government said it made no concessions to obtain the release of the hostages, apart from assuring the prisoners their lives would not be in danger. Diplomatic sources described the peaceful outcome as a triumph for President Kyprianou, who had maintained throughout the incident that he would not be blackmailed by people he called terrorists in prison. The released hostages were taken to see the President after their release.
President Kyprianou said that he has ordered a full-scale enquiry into the incident to discover whether prison officials are in any way responsible for it. Ring-leader, Vassos Pavlides, responsible for the kidnapping of President Kyrianou’s son last year was later pardoned by the President, but then arrested again in April on charges of conspiracy against the state and remanded in custody.
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