The Greek government has issued a sharp rebuke to Russia following comments by a Russian official regarding the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, calling the invasion an "open wound" and a "blatant violation of international law."
The diplomatic row erupted after Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on the Cyprus issue and Greece's resolution of the naming dispute with North Macedonia.
In response, Greek diplomatic sources reaffirmed that the 1974 invasion led to the illegal occupation of nearly 37% of Cyprus.
Athens defended its agreement with North Macedonia, stating it was resolved peacefully under U.N. auspices and in line with the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, which established principles of peaceful coexistence between states.
The pointed exchange highlights the deteriorating relationship between Greece and Russia, which has been strained since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Ambassador Andrey Maslov recently stated that bilateral relations are at their lowest point in years.