Newsroom
The mother of 24-year-old Kyriakos Oksinos, who was killed by a defective Takata airbag, has launched a scathing attack on Cyprus Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades, accusing him of inaction and failure to protect the public.
Maria Loui, in an emotional online post, said the minister’s recent response to the findings of the investigative committee into the Takata scandal came far too late. She called his actions “a failure” and blamed his 18-month delay for the tragic death of 19-year-old Styliani, another young victim of a Takata airbag.
“Too late,” she wrote. “For 27 months he’s been Minister of Transport, with one death on his record and warnings ringing loud about life-threatening danger… He stood by doing nothing.”
Loui said Vafeades’ recent decision to call an emergency Road Safety Council meeting was hollow, given that the ministry had already received four separate reports on the issue and failed to act on them sooner.
She didn’t hold back, accusing him of showing “indifference, incompetence, and a total lack of empathy or self-awareness.” Loui also rejected any apology or sympathy from the minister, saying families like hers want action, not words.
She pointed out that back in February 2025, the ministry had advised drivers with affected vehicles to keep using them “at their own risk.” Now, just months later, the same ministry is telling drivers to stop using them altogether.
“The current Transport Minister bears serious responsibility,” she wrote. “His statements enrage us. A little self-reflection wouldn’t hurt. At the very least, he should admit to his irresponsibility and failure. A young woman lost her life during his time in office. And he chose to bury his head in the sand.”
“Shame,” she concluded.
Takata airbags, which have been linked to deaths and injuries worldwide, have prompted massive recalls in recent years. Cyprus has been among the countries affected, with growing pressure on authorities to remove dangerous vehicles from the roads and take decisive action before more lives are lost.
