The Cypriot media and Cypriot society are in a state of shock by the murder of the director of the publishing holding DIAS, to which also belong the Cypriot television channel Sigma and the daily newspaper SIMERINI. There is still no information about the motives for the murder.
The tragic incident occurred last night in the capital Nicosia. Two people waited for Andis Hadzikostis outside his home at 08:45PM, located near the U.S. embassy building. One of the killers approached the victim at the time he was getting out of his car and shot him twice. Death occurred instantaneously.
Police spokesman said that the killers fired from close, possibly with hunting weapons, because no thimbles were found on the crime scene. Probably one of the perpetrators was waiting outside the house and the other was waiting nearby with a powerful engine motorcycle, with which they also escaped on a dirt road afterwards. Neighbors of Hadzikostis witnessed the actions of the murderers, but failed to see their faces because they were wearing motorcycle helmets. A S.W.A.T. team and legal practitioners are searching the crime scene. The area around the crime scene is locked out and there is increased police presence. According to unconfirmed reports at the time of the murder the victim’s wife was at their home. They had gotten married two months ago.
Shortly after the news politicians, ministers and the President of the Cyprus Parliament Marios Karoyan, arrived at the scene. Local politicians commented on the attack as an attack on democracy. The speaker of the parliament announced destabilization attempts. "We have started to look like a jungle," said Karoyan. With unconcealed emotions journalists from Sigma channel announced the tragic news and spoke of "gangland killings." Today's edition of Simerini was printed with a facial image of the victim and filled with exciting words of the chief editor, who describes Hadzikostis as a man full of energy and desire for work, giving opportunities to many young people. According to the newspaper Hadzikostis’ murder comes at a difficult time of crisis for the country in which citizens are worried about its development. Politicians talk about a turning point regarding the Cyprian issue.
The murder of Hadzikostis follows a series of other incidents and events in the country, with which the Cypriot community has been dealing heavily with in recent times - the theft of the remains of former Cypriot President Thassos Papadopoulos, the eradication of the Greek flag on his grave and bringing and burning both Greek and Cypriot flags in Cemetery in Limassol. "It seems the murder of Andis Hadzikostis aims to unleash passions and hatred. Perhaps it aims the creation of abnormal conditions and good conditions for terrorism ", reported Simerini and continues: “The assassination of Andis is a blow against media and civil freedom of expression.”
41-year-old Andis Hadzikostis is the younger of the two sons of the owner of DIAS holding Kostis Hadzikostis. He has studied Economics and Political Science at the University of Southampton and has worked as a business adviser in Germany and as a financial analyst in the European Union, before returning to his homeland in 1995. Andis Hadzikostis is one of the most powerful media entrepreneurs on the island. Very well known is also his long-lasting friendship with singer Anna Vissi, with whom he has also cooperated in terms of managing and organizing her concerts. His father Kostis Hadzikostis owns the television channel Sigma, Simerini newspaper and Radio Proto. Hadzikostis is also a known investor in different sectors. It is believed that the entrepreneur has strong influence on the political programs of Cyprus. During the 2004 referendum the holding of Hadzikostis follow the “No” line to the Annan plan. According to the Fimes newspaper many people associate the murder of Andis Hadzikostis with his stance on the Cyprian issue. According to others it is a provocation against the attempts to resolve the Cyprian issue. Another information appeared in online forums that the holding was preparing to invest in the occupied areas of Cyprus.
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