Elam candidate office defaced with paint in Nicosia

Unknown individuals targeted the political office of Elam candidate Marios Pelekanos, with the building’s facade covered in black paint.

According to reports issued on Monday, police were informed after the incident, which caused visible damage to the exterior of the office, while no injuries were reported and no arrests have been announced.

Pelekanos condemned the act in a social media post, describing those responsible as “thugs” and “vandals”, adding that they were reacting to his political presence and speech.

He said such actions would not weaken his campaign, stating that “they are not bothered by our speech, they are bothered by the fact that it finds a response in society”.

He further posted an excerpt from a speech delivered at the inauguration of his headquarters, retorting that “the more they fight us, the more they prove that the path we are following is the right one”.

Authorities are expected to review CCTV footage from the area as part of ongoing inquiries into the attack, while the office remains operational.

The case follows a separate episode last week in which election posters in Polis Chrysochous were defaced, including Akel campaign material marked with swastikas and fascist iconography described by the party as hateful, which it condemned as “an intimidation tactic”.

Pelekanos served as government spokesman under former President Nicos Anastasiades between 2021 and 2023 and subsequently became vice chairman of Anastasiades’ party Disy.

However, he resigned as party vice chairman in February 2024 after not being selected by Disy as a candidate for the European elections.