Two claim torture by Paphos police

TWO Ukrainian men are claiming they were tortured by Paphos police officers after being detained for failing to pay a £8 bar-bill.

Igor Kovsharev, 25, and Alexander Gargagav, 27, yesterday alleged they had been handcuffed to chairs in a Paphos central police station interrogation room and beaten repeatedly on the back and bare soles of their feet with metal rods.

The two were arrested in a Paphos cabaret on Sunday night after a barman complained to police they had refused to pay a drinks bill.

On Monday they were brought before Paphos District Court and remanded on suspicion of resisting arrest and assaulting police officers. They deny attacking officers, and claim that after their court appearance they were taken back to the central police station and tortured.

Kovsharev and Gargagav are due in court again today, and plan to make an official complaint. They also say they will sue the government for compensation.

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