An art exhibition by painter George Gavriel was removed from the Blue Iris Gallery in Paphos after the gallery’s owner received death threats. The threats began following a social media post by a candidate for the far-right ELAM party, escalating through Saturday. Gavriel withdrew the works, which often address political and religious themes, to protect the owner, who chose not to file a formal complaint. Three young people briefly entered the gallery’s basement and removed some pieces, which were later restored.
This incident highlights growing pressures on artistic freedom in Cyprus, where artists face intimidation and censorship over controversial subject matter. Gavriel’s previous disciplinary investigations by the Ministry of Education for being “derogatory of religion” underscore a pattern of institutional and extra-legal pushback against provocative art. The case raises urgent questions about the safety of gallery owners and artists in an increasingly polarized climate, where exhibitions require police protection and works are removed under threat.