Newsroom
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has come to the defense of newly elected MEP and popular YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou, urging him not to back down in the face of fierce backlash over their two-hour interview.
Speaking from Baku, Azerbaijan, in an interview with Star Cyprus, Tatar expressed dismay over the public outcry in the Republic of Cyprus, where some have branded Panayiotou a “fool” and a “traitor” for speaking with the Turkish Cypriot leader, who advocates for a two-state solution on the divided island.
“He’s a member of the European Parliament and a YouTuber with a huge following,” said Tatar. “He asked tough questions, like why I talk about two states, and shared his own opinions. That’s called dialogue. But in the South, they’re calling him a traitor. How can we build any agreement with that kind of mindset?”
The controversy erupted after word spread about the recorded interview, which has not yet been published. Tatar is now calling on Panayiotou to release it, describing the criticism as a “shameful attack on freedom of expression.”
Tatar added that he would raise the issue on the international stage. “This is a young MEP who had the courage to sit down with someone from the other side and listen. That takes guts. I thank him for that.”
Political fallout
The reaction in the Republic was swift. Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis responded publicly, while local commentators and social media users lashed out at Panayiotou for speaking with the Turkish Cypriot leader. The backlash has drawn attention beyond Cyprus, feeding into the long-standing tensions between the two sides.
The Turkish Cypriot newspaper Volkan took aim at what it described as a “lynching” of Panayiotou, placing the story front and center with the headline: “No tolerance for the TRNC and its institutions.” The paper criticized the Greek Cypriot establishment for what it sees as a refusal to allow even the slightest space for dialogue or recognition.
A polarizing figure, a risky conversation
Fidias Panayiotou, known to his millions of followers as a quirky and unfiltered YouTube personality, ran a successful grassroots campaign for the European Parliament earlier this year. His political inexperience and unconventional style have made him a polarizing figure in Cyprus’ political scene.
This latest incident throws him further into the spotlight, raising questions about whether his candid style can coexist with the island’s deeply entrenched political sensitivities.
As Tatar put it bluntly, “If we can’t even hear each other out, how can we ever move forward?”
Panayiotou has yet to publicly respond or release the interview.
