Reports from Famagusta say that the Northern Cyprus government may seize financier Asil Nadir’s Kibril media empire tonight despite demonstrations on his behalf from employees, trade unionists and the main opposition party.
There is even speculation that Nadir may flee the country.
The government says Nadir, who fled the UK to Northern Cyprus after his Polly Peck business empire collapsed, owes £4.5m in back taxes.
Northern Cyprus is in the run-up to its hugely important elections on April 19 after which a deal might be done to unify the island (the larger southern bit is already part of the EU).
Nadir owns a newspaper, radio and TV station in Northern Cyprus and, from being a supporter of the government, has turned into a thorn in its side.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of 69-year old Nadir’s various actions, this hardly looks like EU-style democracy in action.