Newsroom
Paphos Mayor Phedonas Phedonos has sharply criticized the government following a fire at a facility for unaccompanied minors, denouncing the "dictatorship of mediocrity." Speaking on RIK's "Proti Enimerosi" program, Phedonos claimed that the facility, operating illegally for the past two and a half years, fails to meet international standards and the obligations of the Republic of Cyprus. He emphasized that such facilities should not be housed in hotel buildings.
Phedonos detailed the problems at the site, including violent altercations, drug trafficking, and prostitution, with recent reports suggesting the involvement of male prostitution and minors being exploited in same-sex relations.
When asked if authorities were aware of these issues, the mayor responded, "They know everything. We are living under a dictatorship of mediocrity, with average individuals holding key positions. It’s not xenophobia or racism that is increasing, but the state's inadequacy." He noted that some local families have been forced to sell or rent their homes due to noise and safety concerns in the area.
The fire broke out in a second-floor room, which was unoccupied, abandoned, and left unlocked. Evidence at the scene suggests the fire was accidentally caused by a cigarette.
