Two Suspects Arrested in Greece Over Cyprus Businessman Contract Killing

Two men have been arrested in Thessaloniki, Greece, in connection with the October 17 contract killing of Stavros Demosthenous, a prominent Limassol businessman and chairman of the Karmiotissa football club. The suspects, second cousins originally from Georgia and aged 27 and 28, were apprehended following European arrest warrants issued by Cypriot authorities. Investigations suggest the killing was mafia-style, potentially linked to the so-called "Greek mafia," a criminal network with ties to Georgian ethnic groups and organized crime in former Soviet states. While the men were reportedly hired for the assassination, it remains unclear if they directly carried out the shooting or acted as accomplices. Police cooperation between Greece and Cyprus has been praised, with hopes that the arrests will uncover further evidence regarding the murder's motives and connections. Demosthenous was shot near his home in Limassol, dying after his son attempted to drive him to the hospital.