Cypriot MEP Fidias Panayiotou sparks outrage with pro‑Russia video
His election to the European Parliament was a sensation. Cypriot influencer Fidias Panayiotou did not bring a breath of fresh air to European politics, but rather the stench of Russian propaganda. His video proposing a resolution to the Ukrainian-Russian conflict was heavily criticised online.
Fidias Panayiotou is a popular influencer in Cyprus. At the age of 24, he became a member of the European Parliament. The election of such a young person with no political experience to such an important position caused quite a stir across Europe. Journalists highlighted his fame as a YouTuber, notably his attempt to hug 100 celebrities and spending a week in a coffin.
The YouTuber adopted a very dismissive approach to the elections. He announced his candidacy wearing trainers, shorts, a blazer, and three ties. With disarming honesty, he admitted that he knew little about the European Union but was fed up with the rule of "bore" officials from Brussels. The unusual candidacy appealed to the citizens of the island nation. Fidias received 19% of the votes, becoming one of the six Cypriot MEPs.
Shocking video by Fidias Panayiotou
Fidias recorded a video about the Ukrainian-Russian war, after which he received a barrage of criticism. The reason is that the influencer presents a perspective favourable to the aggressor, namely Russia. Fidias recommends holding a referendum in each of Ukraine's regions so that the citizens of individual regions have a chance to express which country they want to belong to. The Cypriot suggests that eastern Ukraine may sympathise with Russia, citing presidential and parliamentary election results as evidence. The TikToker claims that listening to the "will of the people" and learning which country the residents of the regions want to belong to would enable lasting peace between the feuding nations.
Fidias' reasoning is flawed on many levels. The TikToker cites outdated election results, ignoring changes in political sympathies in Ukraine over the past 12 years. Meanwhile, over the past decade, Russia has intensified efforts to subjugate its smaller neighbour, stirring patriotic sentiments among Ukrainians — as evidenced by the high level of support for President Volodymyr Zelensky even in the country's east.
Fidias also seems not to understand that holding a referendum in areas annexed by Russia and in areas affected by warfare would not be representative. The issues would not only include Russian propaganda activities, difficulties in detecting electoral manipulations, and new Russian residents who were deliberately relocated in place of Ukrainians. The Russian military expelled millions of people from their original homes, and tens of thousands were killed. How are they supposed to participate in a referendum?
