Turkish Cypriot leader of the pseudo-state, Ersin Tatar, has thanked MEP Fidias Panayiotou for conducting a controversial interview, and urged him not to “give in to threats” after the young YouTuber faced backlash for platforming the head of the illegal occupation regime in the north.
Speaking from Baku, Azerbaijan to Star Kibris, Tatar referred to the two-hour interview as an important moment of dialogue and described Panayiotou as “brave” for proceeding with the meeting.
The interview, however, has provoked widespread outrage in the Republic of Cyprus, where Panayiotou’s decision to treat the leader of an unrecognised and unlawful entity as a legitimate political figure has been condemned across party lines. On social media, users branded him a “clown” and a “traitor” for offering legitimacy to a regime born of invasion, displacement, and continued military occupation.
“He’s an MEP and a YouTuber with a large following,” said Tatar. “He asked why I speak about two states and expressed his own views. But it’s a shame they called him a traitor. How can we ever reach agreement with that mentality? They can’t tolerate hearing our voice.”
Tatar claimed the backlash constituted a violation of free expression and said he would raise the issue internationally.
“I thank this young MEP for his courage. I knew there would be a reaction, but not this level of embarrassment. I truly thank him.”
Panayiotou’s apparent naivety in engaging with the head of a breakaway regime- which remains unrecognised by every country in the world except Turkey- has renewed questions about his fitness for office. Many viewed the meeting as a reckless attempt at content creation rather than a serious political gesture.
Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan amplified the controversy, running the headline: “With these people Erhürman wants to form a common state?“, mocking Greek Cypriot opposition to the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” and its institutions. The paper also referenced recent statements from government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, who reaffirmed the Republic’s position and condemned the meeting.
Read also: Greek lawyer arrested in occupied north on espionage charges
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