Cyprus President and Communist Party leader Demetris Christofias
Posted on 07/04/2010 12:06:17 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
The president of Cyprus said Saturday the island's authorities are not to blame for the disappearance of an alleged fugitive Russian spy.
Dimitris Christofias said that 54-year-old Christopher Metsos "appears to have fled" the island, but insisted Cypriot authorities acted appropriately in handling the case. His comments come the day after Cyprus's justice minister said he believes Metsos had fled the country.
Metsos is wanted in the United States on charges that he supplied money to the spy ring that operated under deep cover in America's suburbs. He disappeared on Wednesday, a day after a Cypriot court freed him on bail.
Christofias deflected U.S. Justice Department criticism over Metsos' release, saying U.S. authorities were slow in providing certain documents to Cypriot police.
"Only now are they providing them, only now are they preparing them," Christofias told reporters as he left a Nicosia radio station where he gave an interview.
"I don't think it is appropriate to apportion blame to the Cyprus Republic," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
All of their police and stuff were off that week I guess.
This has always been a problem with US authorities, Joe.
Once again...Bush's fault!
Translation: Putin either paid them good money to let the spy go, or else threatened to pay Cyprus a visit from the Black Sea Fleet.
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