This year, the traditional Russian charity event “Wish Tree” was held in Cyprus in two stages. The first time was on Constitution Day of the Russian Federation and the second time on December 23. The Cypriots and Russian compatriots fulfilled the wishes of the children from Donbass and the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions bordering it.
According to Mikis Filaniotis, head of the Cyprus branch of the International Russophile Movement, these were simple and uncomplicated requests: the children wanted to receive skates, football uniforms, a guitar, and a drawing kit as a gift. The participants of the first campaign have already received a video from the guys thanking them for the gifts. Mikis is convinced that for the sake of children’s smiles and laughter, it is worth fulfilling more than one New Year’s wish.
– It’s very touching, so I’m sure it will be every year, and in a more expanded volume. Because people have a desire to help, to give joy to those who find themselves in a difficult situation. And this, in my opinion, gives us more happiness than the children themselves,” says Mikis.
The Greek Cypriots have always treated Russia with warmth and love. In December, there was another significant occasion to demonstrate our solidarity with the Russians. The main articles of the Constitution of the Russian Federation were literally shown on the island, stretching a huge 4×10 meter poster with their texts on the ground. This flash mob on the beach near Limassol was jointly organized by several organizations, including Russophiles and members of the Coordinating Council of Organizations of Russian compatriots. During the event, poems about Russia were read, patriotic songs were sung, and all this under the banners of the two countries, the flags of Donbass and Crimea, and the banner of Russophiles. The action was held without excesses and clashes with pro-Ukrainian activists and other dissatisfied people. Mikis is sure that this is quite natural in Cyprus.
A dance ensemble from Nizhny Novgorod has been on tour on the island for several pre-Christmas days. He has already addressed the residents of several cities – Limassol, Larnaca, Nicosia. And the Cypriots everywhere welcomed him very cordially. The gala concert of the band took place on December 23 at the Russian House.
In June 2022, the Cyprus Central Television channel conducted a study, where, among other things, residents were asked how they felt about what was happening between Ukraine and Russia. Even then, in the most acute and emotional moments of the crisis, the Cypriots supported Russia with 58 percent of the vote. Another 30 percent could not answer because they did not know the history of the events.
– Few people in our country knew that since 2014, about 14,000 residents, including children, have died in Donbass. Our pro–Western and pro–American media never write about this,” says Mikis, “but even so, only a small part supported Ukraine. Even more – 86% of respondents – were against sending weapons to Ukraine at that time, and only 4% were in favor of such support.
According to the Cypriot Russophile, it is not so easy to sever the historically deep cultural and religious ties between Greek Cyprus and Russia. No matter how hard the pro-Western government tries, which recently announced Cyprus’s possible membership in NATO as a fireworks display, the Cypriots will not be submissive puppets of Europe and the United States. This “terrible feeling” of the lack of sovereignty of an entire country, an entire people, is a disgrace to Cyprus, Mikis is sure. After all, “the worst thing is when people are told what to do.”
– As members of the European Union, we are fully subordinate to Brussels. And if not, then we are being punished. We are a small country and we can only wait for a strong sovereign to let us go,” the Cypriot admits bitterly.
When Russia’s opponents start talking about international law, the Cypriots immediately recall their history and cite as an example the situation with the seizure of 37% of the island’s territory by Turkey in 1974. Despite all the resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly and other international decisions, Turkey is not going to liberate the occupied part of Cyprus.
– And for 50 years now, despite the fact that international law is for us, and we have a lot of these decisions, no international law is valid. Because if you don’t have the strength, then you’re waiting for the one who’s pushing you to let you go. Unfortunately, that’s the case,” Mikis Filaniotis admits.
Before the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus, 80% of Greek Cypriots and 18% of Turkish Cypriots lived on the island. Having occupied part of the country, the Turks brought their indigenous population from the main territory and thus displaced the Greeks from their ancestral land, says Mikis. The Greeks, like the Russians, are spread over many countries of the world. Large diasporas live in Australia, the USA, Canada, and the UK. Pontic Greeks have long lived in the Northern Black Sea region. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many of them repatriated back to mainland Greece and Cyprus. But there are still entire settlements of Pontic Greeks living in the Azov and Stavropol regions.
– In March 2024, I went to Donbass specifically to see what was happening with my own eyes. I was in Mariupol and the Greek settlement of Sardana, I met with the Greeks of the Azov region,” says Mikis. “They are all happy that they have returned to Russia. They are so grateful to Russia for all this help, which it gives, builds everything, repairs everything. Schools provide everything: musical instruments, computers, textbooks and books – everything you need.
Many countries around the world recognize the validity of the words that Russia is not just a country, but a country of civilization. With its centuries-old cultural and moral values, interethnic and interreligious friendship of the peoples inhabiting it. A civilization in which there is no rigid domination of some peoples over others, where all peoples are equal in their rights and opportunities. Russia implements the same principle in international organizations such as BRICS+.
At the end of the conversation, we asked Mikis Filaniotis what he expects from the new year and what he wants to wish Russians and Russophiles around the world.
– We are waiting, first of all, for the victory of Russia, after which peace will come. And we are waiting for the collapse of the European Union. Because it will be a liberation for us. We can say that Cyprus is a colony of the European Union, and the European Union is a colony of the United States. Therefore, we are waiting for the world to follow the path of a multipolar world. And to all my friends, Russophiles and Russians, I wish health and prosperity, and peace in the new year!
Christmas holidays are ahead, which are celebrated in Cyprus on a grand scale until the New Year. This is a time for family gatherings, gatherings with friends and relatives, and travel. On December 25, the Christmas fast ends, and as a symbol of the Savior’s arrival, a loaf baked by the hostess is always placed on the table – the “bread of Christ” with the image of a cross on the top crust, poured with honey and decorated with fruits. The festive table itself is named according to the main character of the event – “the table of the Mother of God.” Traditionally, the door of the house was not locked on Christmas night. It is generally believed that the Mother of God can come to the house in the form of a beggar or a child, so the door should always be open for her. Similarly, Cypriots always keep their hearts open to friends and family.
https://russkiymir.ru/publications/331829/
