A 43-year-old Russian man wanted in connection with the murder of Vangelis Zampounis has been arrested in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus.
According to the Cyprus News Agency, Alexei Shokpa was arrested in the Esentepe area and appeared before a court in the north.
Authorities charged him with illegal residence and entering a designated military restricted zone.
Suspect allegedly spent 389 days illegally in north
A member of the authorities in the north said Shokpa had remained illegally in the area for 389 days.
According to the official, the suspect had secretly crossed into the Republic of Cyprus through the Tymvou area before returning to the north in July using the same route.
The court ordered his three-day detention, while authorities investigate the purpose of his presence and whether he may have links to other offences.
Greek police had released his details
The Hellenic Police released Shokpa’s name and photograph on August 1, following an order from the Athens Prosecutor’s Office.
Police released the information as part of efforts to gather further evidence about other possible cases involving the Russian suspect.
Zampounis was shot dead on January 14, 2024, outside a petrol station at the junction of Frantzi and Ilias Iliou streets in Athens’ Neos Kosmos district.
Greek authorities released Shokpa’s details more than two years after the killing as they sought additional information about his alleged activities.
An international arrest warrant had also been issued against the 43-year-old.
