george gavriel — The home of painter George Gavriel was the target of an explosive attack late Thursday afternoon, 18 December, following a week of political targeting and death threats over his latest art exhibition.
According to Dialogos, the incident occurred in the village of Kokkinotrimithia while Gavriel was at home with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Witnesses reported hearing two motorcycles approach just before the explosions, which caused damage to the balcony of the house. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the family was left traumatised by the event.
In response to the attack, police cordoned off the scene in Kokkinotrimithia and began a forensic examination of explosive residues. Investigators are also reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area in an effort to identify the two motorcyclists involved.
The assault on Gavriel’s home marks a troubling escalation of hostility that has been brewing over his artwork. This surge in aggression followed the abrupt cancellation of his exhibition, Antisystemic Art, at the Blue Iris Gallery in Paphos just days earlier. The gallery’s owner faced multiple death threats and warnings of property destruction unless the provocative pieces—which include depictions of religious and political figures—were removed.
Political tensions surrounding Gavriel have intensified, particularly after Efthymios Diplaros, the Deputy President of DISY, shared a collage of the artist’s work on social media, labelling it “crude blasphemy.” In response, Gavriel accused Diplaros of spreading “fake news” through a doctored image intended to incite public anger. The far-right ELAM party has since requested that the Police Chief initiate criminal proceedings against Gavriel for allegedly “insulting the Orthodox faith.”
This isn’t the first time Gavriel has faced scrutiny for his artistic expressions. In 2021, a disciplinary probe against him was dropped by the Law Office, which concluded that his work did not violate his professional duties as a secondary school principal. However, this latest violent incident is likely to reignite discussions about the state’s duty to safeguard artists from extrajudicial threats and intimidation.
