Three men wanted by Cypriot authorities have been included in a new appeal by the EU Most Wanted campaign, which features fugitives from 14 countries, Europol announced on Thursday.
One of the three, Irakli Diakonashvili, is wanted in Cyprus for offences involving the sexual abuse of a child. The other two, Aleks Burelli and David Gazzaev, are sought in connection with separate serious criminal cases involving offences including homicide, attempted murder, arson, extortion and participation in a criminal organisation.
Fugitive wanted for child sexual offences
Irakli Diakonashvili, a Georgian national, is wanted by Cyprus for offences relating to rape, child sexual exploitation and child pornography.
According to Europol’s description of the case, an investigation was launched following a complaint made in November 2023 by a 12-year-old child. The child reportedly told a doctor at Nicosia Hospital that they had been sexually abused by a friend of their mother.
The case remains under investigation.
Two men wanted over serious criminal cases
Aleks Burelli, an Albanian national, is wanted in connection with a case involving homicide, arson and causing grievous bodily harm.
Europol says the case concerns an armed attack at a restaurant in Ayia Napa on 23 June 2016, in which three people were killed: a businessman, a police officer and the officer’s wife. A second police officer and another person were seriously injured.
According to Europol, Burelli is also alleged to have been involved in a conspiracy to carry out further murders in Cyprus as part of the same criminal group.
David Gazzaev is wanted for attempted murder, money laundering, participation in a criminal organisation, extortion and related offences.
Europol says that on 29 September 2025, he allegedly went with another suspect to a hotel in Limassol, where he shot a 42-year-old Ukrainian man in the abdomen and assaulted another person who was present.
Investigators reportedly found evidence suggesting that the attack was linked to an extortion case in which a large sum of money had been demanded, accompanied by threats to the victim’s life.
Europol also says information received from Russian authorities indicates that Gazaev holds a senior position in a criminal organisation allegedly involved in burglaries, thefts, robberies and extortion. The agency describes him as a high-risk individual.
Campaign focuses on crimes against vulnerable people
The latest EU Most Wanted campaign appeal focuses on fugitives wanted for crimes against children and older people, including child sexual exploitation and fraud targeting elderly victims.
The European Network of Fugitive Active Search Teams (ENFAST), with Europol’s support, is urging members of the public to review the fugitives’ profiles and submit any information that could help law enforcement authorities locate them.
According to Europol, the appeal includes both suspects wanted to face criminal proceedings and convicted offenders who remain at large.
Nineteen people are being sought in connection with cases in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland and Spain.
Europol advises the public not to approach anyone they recognise from the profiles. Instead, information should be submitted anonymously through the EU Most Wanted website. Tips are forwarded directly to the relevant national fugitive search teams.
EU Most Wanted website marks ten years
The website was established by ENFAST and Europol in 2016 and marks its tenth anniversary this year.
According to Europol, 191 fugitives have been arrested since its launch while their profiles were published on the website. In 58 of those cases, information provided by members of the public contributed to the arrests.
So far in 2026, 16 fugitives featured on the website have been arrested. Public information helped make four of those arrests possible.
Also read: Heightened security measures for Maccabi–Hapoel match in Limassol
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