26/07/2024
Ever wonder what its like to be denied entry to Cyprus when you have rights?
Paphos airport has a rather poxy little airport hotel nobody wants to stay at, and which costs a small fortune. The room service is poor, and the views are not much either. It's run by .
So here is some background. If you follow our page you know we are journalists, my wife is Russian, was targetted by GRU and poisoned in November 2023 and we have been working on a long running investigation into an Essex County lines gang setting up shop in Paphos.
When I arrive back in Cyprus on 10 January 2024, with my wife detained, I went to the machine and scanned my passport. A big fat cross showed on the sheet. I had been blacklisted.
For what, said I as I walked up to the counter. "You know what you have done!" Said the cop. One can infer that he, or migration, are critics of my journalism.
I am asked where my hotel is. I remind them I have a 3 bedroom house, and 2 cats. So where is your money, he demands.
At the time, things were tight. I check my wallet €40 euro for my taxi, a couple of credit cards with obscene limits, and £1,800 gbp i can withdraw, for a 3 day fly in to see my cats, pay my bills, and go to court to support my wife's asylum claim.
No brexit rights! I am told. News to me. I have been in Cyprus since 2015? Am self sufficient, have insurance, and had applied when brexit happened for my PR.
Of course, this is Cyprus .... so a couple of years to not get a decision doesn't seem too bad.
An officer walks by "oh, that's my neighbour Tom from Tremethousa... why are we not letting him in" to get the reply "malaka knows what he has done!".
Now I must suggest when they gave me the bad boy letter, locked me up, and put me back on a flight which cost me a small fortune (thanks Ryanair... €400) to Hungary ... I suggested they tick the box "not conducive to public morals".
But what did I do... oh yes, report the news.
My review
1 🌟 star out of 5
No pool, expensive, lousy food and annoying concierge