Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sunshinekathy]

I have been to paphos twice now once in 2003 with my mum, dad and sister and again last July with my BF.

The first time stayed at Alexendra the Great - fantastic hotel lovely holiday

2nd time stayed at the St George - again lovely hotel but the holiday was ruined for this reason:

Went to a local bar for a few drinks by the hotel, walkin home about 12.30 along a main road a car kept driving past and slowing down then it stopped two boys got out and started trying to get me in the car, my bf went over to them and one of them who spoke no english started beating him up, then the oher joined in, i pulled one of the blokes off him and he hit me twice in the face adn then continued to hit my bf until they knocked him out.I got the registration number.

we were taken to hosipital and the police didnt do much, they arrested the blokes and we had to go to police station sit in the room with them while they questioned us and the boys together , then arrested the boys but they were still allowed to come over and sit with us or stand outside having cigerette

they then wanted us to return 3 weeks later for court said if we didnt could do nothing.

They were known as cypriot russians.

[erolz]

Hi Kathy and welcome to the forums.

I ma posting a reply because no else has so far and I suspect that the reason for this has been the shock of hearing your terrible ordeal whilst in Cyprus. Personally I am of TC desent and live in the North of Cyprus, however I do not think this is a 'political' issue and would not pretend that what happend to you in the south could not also happen here (though I pray it does not). As a Cypriot I would like to offer my sincere sympathies and appologies (on behalf of Cypriots in general) for what happend to you and the lack of concern you felt was shown by the authorites in your case. It sounds like a terryfying and horrific experience. I sincerely hope it will not affect your view of Cyprus and Cypriots in general but can certainly understand if it does.

Again sincere sympathies and appologies for what happened to you. A truely dreadful experince and a shame for Cyprus.

[magikthrill]

kathy,

that is in deed a horrible experience. why could you not stay till the trial though and convict the ba$tard$?? Personally, I think you got very lucky that the police found them (im not sure how incompetent Cypriot authorities are but I know both here in LA and Greece they're not that great)

Its a shame the court trial was set while you were not there. I believe though thats how it works in most countries, since you cant convict someone unless a prosecutor is present.

[gabaston]

Kathy

id just like to add my sentiments to those already expressed. Every nation has its scum.

[Hazza]

Sorry to hear about your ordeal Kathy.

This is a very rare type of incident, though I know its of no comfort to yourself or your boyfriend. I sincerely hope this hasn't put you off coming to the Island to enjoy yourselves.

[tarama]

I have been to paphos twice now once in 2003 with my mum, dad and sister and again last July with my BF.

The first time stayed at Alexendra the Great - fantastic hotel lovely holiday

2nd time stayed at the St George - again lovely hotel but the holiday was ruined for this reason:

Went to a local bar for a few drinks by the hotel, walkin home about 12.30 along a main road a car kept driving past and slowing down then it stopped two boys got out and started trying to get me in the car, my bf went over to them and one of them who spoke no english started beating him up, then the oher joined in, i pulled one of the blokes off him and he hit me twice in the face adn then continued to hit my bf until they knocked him out.I got the registration number.

we were taken to hosipital and the police didnt do much, they arrested the blokes and we had to go to police station sit in the room with them while they questioned us and the boys together , then arrested the boys but they were still allowed to come over and sit with us or stand outside having cigerette

they then wanted us to return 3 weeks later for court said if we didnt could do nothing.

They were known as cypriot russians.

You have my apologies too. These guys are not Cypriots. They are Greek Pontiacs that came from Russia and most of them cause troubles in the main area of Paphos. They came here as immigrants, have different mentality from Cypriots (both GC's and TC's). They are used in a different way of life, the one they had in Russia. They steal and make troubles all the time. Nobody likes them especially those who leave close to them. People from 35 and up are mostly ok but the young ones are like this.
Be sure that when they are in court they will pay for sure for what they did.
Regards

[andytandreou]

hi kathy... really sorry to hear what happened to you! The same exact thing happened to some English friends of mine (i am Cypriot and i live in here), i called the police and they where more than willing to help, they found who hit my friends by looking through CCTV footage nearby, my friends didn't want to take the matter further and took the first plane back to the UK. The police asked them to come back and testify which was the only way to get a conviction but they declined.

You may feel bitter and angry about the whole thing but trust me, this is not an indication of what Cyprus has become or what it's becoming, it's just an incident that happened which could have happened in the UK or Barbados.

My honest suggestion is to start an organised campaign by writing to local newspapers and magazines, ask someone to translate a letter for you and then send that letter to as many organizations as possible, I believe sooner or later they will make some kind of "fund" to pay for Tourists return tickets when they come to testify in court, your experience could be the "drop that makes the glass spill". A good place to start is the Cyprus yellow pages (English language version), and remember, all you have to do is write one letter!!!

Regards

Andy

Yellow pages: http://www.cytayellowpages.com.cy/direc ... ow_dir.asp

[Michael Coumas]

Kathy,
Please do what you are advised is necessary to publicise and apprehend these retards who otherwise will infiltrate all societies globally.
I am sorry for your experience as I am sure all Cypriot people would be.
Cyprus and Singapore were & possibly still are two places where personal safety and security were considered to be almost guaranteed. We must try to preserve that feeling.
I understand your trauma and wish you both the very best but please do whatever you can to try and ensure that if nothing else the authorities are if necessary shamed into taking some action and that they are seen as supporting the victim and not the criminal. If not a degeneration of the criminal justice system will ensue leading to perceptions similar to those in the UK where the public feel that generally the law sides with the criminal not the victim.
You both have my sympathies.

[Svetlana]

I am not sure if everyone is aware this actually happened last Summer so appearing in Court is 'water under the bridge' now.

I remember this happeneing but cannot recall hearing of any similar cases since.

Lana

[blaked]

we were taken to hosipital and the police didnt do much, they arrested the blokes and we had to go to police station sit in the room with them while they questioned us and the boys together , then arrested the boys but they were still allowed to come over and sit with us or stand outside having cigerette

they then wanted us to return 3 weeks later for court said if we didnt could do nothing.

They were known as cypriot russians.

Do what they do in Russia - pay the police to beat the crap out of them.

If that fails, you can always pay the police to give you info on their identities, then set their place on fire.