HUMAN trafficking in Cyprus is running rampant, as criminal rings have an almost free hand in sexually exploiting young women from former Eastern bloc countries.
According to a report published in Athens in the Vima Sunday supplement Vimagazino, Cyprus is fast turning into a top destination for artistes seeking easy money or a better life. And the criminal rings controlling the cabaret scene apparently have so much muscle that the definition of “entertainment” has long since blurred.
For example, Vimagazino’s piece said it was now commonplace for nightclubs to offer customers sex on the site; the average price was estimated at £50. The article quoted a conversation between a journalist and a waiter in a cabaret, where the latter essentially informed his customer he could cut to the chase and have sex with an artiste of his liking. The dialogue was an illustration of how such practices have become the norm.
Alternatively, customers wishing to engage in sexual intercourse have the option of “hiring” out a girl for the night, but the price tag is considerably higher, as much as £170. But given Cypriots’ high standard of living and good salaries, business is booming for the cabaret owners and pimps, the report said.
In fact, the industry has expanded to such an extent that competition between prospective artistes is stiff, and cabaret owners pay special attention to the “quality” of the girls, typically from Russia, the Ukraine and Central Europe. In turn, this has meant that Cyprus has become the first choice for budding artistes, who often have no idea of what their job entails.
The report also quoted a seasoned artiste agent as saying that the girls stay in building blocs under heavy guard, for two reasons: first, to prevent any escapes and second to avert any abductions by jealous rivals.
So blatant is the exploitation of young women that cabaret owners often loan them out to other entertainment establishments for other duties when that time of the month comes and the girls cannot have sex.
According to Vimagazino, the gangland has grown so powerful that the police Vice Squad can do little to mitigate this abuse.
The report followed comments last week by Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil Robles that the extent of human trafficking in Cyprus was “striking”. During his brief visit to the island, Robles said the number of artistes was excessive, compared to the size and population of the country. The commissioner urged the government to take legal measures to protect victims of trafficking.
