Journalist Constantinos Constantinou has publicly defended evidence he shared about an alleged pushback of approximately 80 migrants, after the Justice Minister questioned the authenticity of materials posted on social media.
Constantinou released a statement responding to Justice Minister Hartsiotis, who described the journalist’s evidence as “of dubious quality and origin” and containing “inaccurate facts that do not correspond to reality”.
“It is very easy through generalities to proceed with the complete demolition and blow to the credibility of anyone,” Constantinou said in his statement. “That’s why I am forced to respond”.
The Minister’s claims concern photographs and videos shared by Constantinou regarding two boats carrying around 80 migrants, primarily Alawites and Christians, that reportedly departed for Cyprus on March 13.
Constantinou claims all material he shared – except for one photograph showing refugees with thermal blankets whose validity is uncertain – definitively relates to the incident in question.
He highlighted one photograph showing a police vessel in the background, which contains metadata in Arabic indicating it was taken on March 15, 2025, at 6:36 a.m.
The journalist has requested to testify and present all evidence if the Attorney General appoints an investigative committee.
According to Constantinou, he was first alerted to the situation by a Syrian permanent resident of Cyprus on March 13, who reported that two boats carrying approximately 80 migrants, including family members, had been out of contact for 18-19 hours after departing at 1:30 a.m. that day.
Constantinou claims that when relatives in Cyprus contacted authorities, they were met with dismissal and anger, being told “not to dare call again” and that the police had no information.
After contacting police headquarters and a Ministry official, Constantinou says he received confirmation on March 14 that “the authorities are handling the matter” but was asked not to relay any information to the relatives.
By March 15, Constantinou claims he was informed by his Syrian contact that the migrants had been intercepted by “two vessels of the authorities of the Republic” mid-journey.
According to this account, all migrants were transferred to a larger vessel where male migrants were allegedly handcuffed and threatened at gunpoint.
He further says that authorities attempted to take the migrants to Lebanon, which refused them entry, before directing them back toward Syria, making it clear “they would not be allowed to go to Cyprus”. The migrants reportedly returned to Syria on March 15.
Cyprus migrant boat disaster
On March 17, a boat carrying more than 20 migrants from Syria capsized off Cyprus. Authorities have rescued two people while seven bodies have been recovered. More than 11 are still unaccounted for.
The NGO Alarm Phone reported receiving calls for help for the boat in distress as early as March 16 and expressed concerns that pushbacks might have taken place.
According to AlphaNews, survivors’ testimonies said that Cyprus authorities had fired warning shots into the sea while ordering the people on the boats to turn back.
AlphaNews reported that authorities boarded the boats, handcuffed the passengers and confiscated their mobile phones, while some were beaten.
Cypriot opposition parties have called for a probe into the claims.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cyprus has also expressed concern about a pushback incident involving Syrian nationals seeking to reach the island.
