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Direct Democracy Candidate Imprisoned for Two Years in the Occupied Territories for Drugs – “When it happened I was 20 years old, now I am almost 30, I am not the same person”: Valeri Tarapai Speaks Exclusively…

Published March 17, 2026, 12:16
Direct Democracy Candidate Imprisoned for Two Years in the Occupied Territories for Drugs – “When it happened I was 20 years old, now I am almost 30, I am not the same person”: Valeri Tarapai Speaks Exclusively…

Valeri Tarapai, a candidate for Direct Democracy, admits she was convicted in the occupied territories on drug charges and served a two-year sentence. However, she emphasizes that she has a clean criminal record in the Republic of Cyprus and does not recognize the laws of the occupied territories. The case involved possession of 170 grams of cannabis and drug processing equipment. Ms. Tarapai states that this experience has changed her and that she is not the same person today, while highlighting the need to protect young people and address depression in Cyprus.