A storm of controversy has erupted in Cyprus following the emotionally charged rendition of the national anthem at the EuroBasket 2025 game between the basketball teams of Cyprus and Greece on Saturday.
The performance at the Spyros Kyprianou arena in Limassol, which featured dimmed lights and a live singer, drew sharp criticism from several quarters, reigniting a long-standing debate about national identity and the island’s political future.
The “Hymn to Liberty,” which serves as the national anthem for both the Hellenic Republic (Greece) and the Republic of Cyprus, has long been a controversial symbol. For Greek Cypriots, it represents their cultural and ethnic ties to Greece. However, for many Turkish Cypriots and those who advocate for a unified, bi-communal Cypriot identity, the anthem is seen as a symbol of Greek nationalism that challenges the island’s unique and shared character.
Critics say rendition of the national anthem of Cyprus and Greece is “nationalism”
The most prominent voice of dissent came from former European Commissioner and former First Lady Androulla Vassiliou. Taking to social media, she warned that such displays could be exploited by those who seek to formalize the island’s partition.
“Tomorrow, when [Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin] Tatar uses this as an example of our intolerance, we will rush to patch things up. Or do we think that these nationalistic outbursts stay between us?” she wrote.
Vassiliou’s concerns were echoed by many on social media, who criticized the atmosphere as a throwback to a more nationalist era. One user lamented that “the revival of 1960s nationalism is the cigarette butt of the Cyprus problem” and warned that “the worst is yet to come.”
Another user replied to a video of the anthem shared by government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, noting that the spokesman’s political party had previously advocated for a more confrontational approach to the Turkish Cypriot community.
Other commentators directly linked the incident to the ongoing peace talks. One asked whether playing the Greek national anthem, which is a “red flag” for the Turkish Cypriot side, was the right approach to promote a unified Republic of Cyprus. The user questioned the political consequences of such actions, a theme that resonated widely among those concerned about how the gesture would be perceived internationally and by Turkish Cypriots.
“We are the Greeks of Cyprus”
Conversely, the spectacle was defended by others, including House President Annita Demetriou, who responded to the criticism by saying, “For God’s sake, what bothered them? This is who we are. We are the Greeks of Cyprus.”
She then added that “safeguarding Cypriot Hellenism is a big deal” and that “you do not achieve this by questioning our history, our heroes.”
This criticism, she said, “is being done on purpose” and with “political motives to alter history and impose a so-called modern approach.”
“We disagree. If anything can keep us going in difficult times and ensure our future, it is to be firm in our principles and values. … All we should be interested in is the Turkification of our occupied territories, what Turkey is doing to our five fellow citizens, in our seas,” she said.
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