Russian national Alexei Sokpa, 43, wanted for his alleged role in the “Edik” network and the murder of Vangelis Zabounis in Greece, will remain in detention with the occupied north’s “authorities” for at least six more days, after a “court” there renewed his detention order today.
A “police officer” asked the “court” for Sokpa to remain in custody, citing ongoing investigative work, including the evaluation of camera footage, and the possibility that he may have committed other offences in the occupied north.
Philenews has reported today that a request has been made through the bicommunal team for Sokpa to be handed over to the Republic of Cyprus via the United Nations.
Sokpa appears in videos published in Greece purportedly showing him as one of Zabounis’s killers. He had been living in the occupied north since July 31, 2025, and reportedly used uncontrolled crossing points to enter the Republic of Cyprus.
Sokpa was arrested in the occupied north on a charge of illegally entering a military zone, and is wanted by Greek police (ELAS) over the murder of Zabounis, who was shot dead in January 2024 in an attack linked to a criminal network smuggling tobacco products led by “Edik,” who was arrested in Dubai this past July.
