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Poland’s diplomatic officials have warned of strategic disinformation campaigns targeting Cyprus, pointing to Turkey and institutions aligned with the occupied northern part of the island as primary sources, according to the Cyprus News Agency.
During a working lunch with journalists in Nicosia on Wednesday, a Polish Embassy official presented findings from a comprehensive study examining misinformation patterns identified in both Poland and Cyprus over recent years. The presentation highlighted sophisticated propaganda efforts designed to undermine the Republic of Cyprus’s sovereignty and regional position.
“Turkey and institutions aligned with the occupied side conduct disinformation and propaganda campaigns within Cyprus,” the official stated. “They try to describe the Republic of Cyprus as a state which relies on external forces.”
According to the official, these campaigns have multiple strategic objectives: provoking fear and suspicion among Cypriots, weakening Cyprus’s regional standing, undermining social cohesion, interfering with international relationships, creating tensions with Arab and Islamic nations, and attempting to legitimize Turkey’s presence in northern Cyprus.
The Polish official expressed particular concern about the vulnerability of Cypriot media consumers to such campaigns, citing a recent survey showing that over 70% of Cypriots primarily receive news through social media platforms—significantly higher than Poland’s 50% rate. This heavy reliance on less regulated information sources potentially increases exposure to orchestrated disinformation efforts.
The presentation also detailed Poland’s own recent battles with disinformation, including false reports about a drone incident in Polish airspace and fabricated stories about a railway explosion. These campaigns, rapidly spreading through social media, reached substantial audiences before being debunked.
In Cyprus specifically, the official noted concerning patterns of anti-migrant content on social media platforms that often targeted perceived threats to Greek Orthodox culture. Additionally, the embassy has observed coordinated misinformation regarding the war in Ukraine, including distortions about sanctions targets, the conflict’s origins, and international political support.
Polish Ambassador to Cyprus Marek Szczepanowski expressed appreciation for President Nikos Christodoulides’s unwavering support for Ukraine, emphasizing the strategic parallels between Ukraine’s situation and Cyprus’s own territorial dispute. “If we allow Russia to prevail and subjugate Ukraine, the situation in Cyprus would become difficult because it would mean you can change the international order through an invasion,” Szczepanowski warned, adding that such precedents would endanger all nations facing similar territorial challenges.
Looking ahead to Cyprus’s upcoming EU Council presidency, Szczepanowski identified maintaining European unity as the administration’s greatest challenge, particularly regarding external security matters and Russian sanctions. He referenced Poland’s recent presidency experience, noting that Hungary and Slovakia presented the most significant resistance to unified security positions.
The ambassador also outlined Poland’s institutional response to disinformation threats, describing how the country established a dedicated team that has grown from just five personnel to 75 specialists tasked with identifying and countering false information campaigns.
During the discussion, Szczepanowski highlighted Poland’s focus on various security dimensions during its presidency, including the successful adoption of the SAFE tool for enhancing EU external security—an initiative that received strong backing from Cyprus. This tool represents part of a broader strategy to strengthen resilience against both conventional threats and information warfare.
The meeting underscores growing recognition of information manipulation as a critical security concern for both nations, particularly as Cyprus navigates complex regional tensions while preparing for its EU leadership role in an increasingly contested information environment.
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8 Comments
Interesting to see Poland calling out Turkey’s social media tactics in Cyprus. Disinformation campaigns are a serious threat to regional stability and democratic institutions. It’s important to expose these propaganda efforts and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Poland’s findings highlight the sophisticated and multifaceted nature of Turkey’s disinformation tactics in Cyprus. Eroding social cohesion, interfering with international relations, and legitimizing the occupation – these are serious allegations. The international community should closely monitor this situation.
I agree, the goals of Turkey’s alleged campaign are quite alarming. Undermining a country’s sovereignty and regional standing through social media manipulation is a concerning trend we’re seeing in many parts of the world.
Turkey’s reported disinformation efforts in Cyprus are highly concerning. Using social media to undermine a country’s sovereignty and legitimize an occupation is a troubling trend that warrants a robust, multilateral response. Safeguarding democratic principles should be the top priority.
The allegations of Turkey’s social media tactics in Cyprus raise serious concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions and regional security. Fact-based reporting and independent analysis will be crucial to understanding the full scope of this issue and formulating an appropriate response.
Turkey’s reported social media activities in Cyprus are very worrying. Using disinformation to provoke fear, weaken a country’s regional position, and justify an occupation is a blatant violation of democratic norms. Robust fact-checking and transparency are key to countering such malign influence.
This is a complex geopolitical situation with serious implications. Poland’s accusations against Turkey’s alleged disinformation campaign in Cyprus deserve close scrutiny. Maintaining regional stability and respecting national sovereignty should be the priority for all involved parties.
This is a concerning example of how social media can be weaponized to undermine a country’s sovereignty and regional standing. Turkey’s efforts to sow division and fear in Cyprus are troubling. Robust fact-checking and media literacy efforts are crucial to counter such malign influence.