Nicosia, Cyprus. Social media personality Ioanna Photiou, known as “Annie Alexui”, said she would return to Cyprus from Russia only if people she trusts in Russia asked her to do so. Photiou said she has claimed political asylum in Russia and does not feel afraid there.
Conditions for returning to Cyprus
Photiou told Sigma television that the only reason she would return to Cyprus would be if people she trusts in Russia requested it. She said she has informed Russian authorities about information she receives suggesting people from the Cypriot underworld have travelled to Russia looking for her, adding that the authorities have told her not to worry.
Claims of safety in Russia
Photiou said she has not felt fear in Russia and claimed that even if someone were to knock on her door, they could not harm her. She said Russian authorities have expressed confidence in their forces.
Communication with Cypriot police
Photiou said she withdrew her offer to Cypriot police to call her on her personal telephone after posting her phone number on social media last month, following police announcements that a warrant had been issued for her arrest. She said the police did not contact her after she published her number.
She said she had communicated with police before the warrant was published but that communication had ended. She said the only way for Cypriot police to contact her now would be to travel to Russia and meet her in the presence of people she trusts and Russian authorities.
Ongoing investigations and related complaint
During the same show, Photiou was asked to comment on police declaring her wanted to facilitate investigations into alleged offences under the personal data processing act, publication of fake news and harassment. She was also asked about Disy MP Charalambos Pazaros filing and then withdrawing a complaint against her.
What do you think should happen next in the case involving the arrest warrant and the police investigations?
