‘Mafia State’ graffiti targeting Anastasiades appears in Nicosia old town

Nicosia, Cyprus. Graffiti bearing the words “Mafia State” and depicting former president Nicos Anastasiades holding a “passports on sale” sign was spotted across Nicosia’s old town on Friday.

Graffiti locations

The black graffiti was seen in at least four locations. The images resembled prisoner-style depictions and showed Anastasiades holding the sign in front of his chest.

Background

The graffiti appeared weeks after investigations into claims in journalist Makarios Drousiotis’ book Mafia State concluded that Anastasiades and others may face criminal liability.

Anastasiades, who served as president of the Republic from 2013 to 2023, has categorically denied all allegations against him.