Changes in charges for Limassol attempted murder case

On April 2, 2026, the Limassol Criminal Court processed a significant change in the case regarding a September 2025 shooting incident outside a coastal hotel. A 42-year-old Ukrainian man was shot in the abdomen during a confrontation, which original police statements attributed to an extortion attempt involving a half-million-euro protection demand. A 39-year-old defendant, previously facing charges of attempted murder, conspiracy, and extortion, had these charges suspended by the prosecution. The complainants, the victim and his associate, testified under oath that they no longer have any complaints against the defendant and submitted a written request to the Law Office to withdraw their claims. The prosecution subsequently added a single charge of accessory after the fact, alleging the defendant assisted a 44-year-old Russian suspect known as 'Dato' in fleeing the scene. The 39-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to this new charge. The court released the defendant from custody, and the trial for the remaining charge is scheduled to begin in early June.