The central offices of Disy in Nicosia were vandalised on Saturday morning, with the building’s front door being smashed.

Party leader Annita Demetriou was seen evaluating the scene outside the building and engaging in discussions with the police.

Later in the morning, the party released a statement which read that “democracy is neither afraid nor blackmailed”.

The party added that it “unequivocally condemns” the incident, and that “such actions are directed squarely at democracy and political dialogue”.

Disy, Annita, political party
(Christos Theodorides)

“They attempt to impose fear and silence through violence,” the party wrote

“Political confrontation can only be expressed through dialogue and respect for different points of view. Acts of violence have no place in our society, and it is the duty of all of us to isolate them. We call on the competent authorities to take all necessary actions to identify and punish the offenders.”

It added, “we will continue to serve our values and our principles with sober political discourse and without extremism, for the good of the country”.

Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, a former member of Disy, also condemned the attack, writing that “such actions are directed squarely at democracy”.

“Acts of violence have no place in our society. Pluralism of ideas, peaceful coexistence of dissent, and mature political expression are the oxygen of democracy,” he wrote, adding that the attack was carried out “not just against a party, but against democracy itself”.

“The competent authorities are taking all the necessary actions to identify and punish the perpetrators in an exemplary manner. It is the duty of all of us to isolate such actions and safeguard democratic values and the principles of the rule of law,” he said.