Five Greek Cypriots are expected to appear before a “military court” in the occupied north on Friday after spending nearly three months in detention on charges of espionage and illegal entry.
The “military court” ordered the conditional release of three of the five Greek Cypriots on 10 September, who had been detained in the occupied territories since 19 July. A couple who faced charges and were held for up to three months were also released on conditional bail on 12 September following proceedings at the “Trikomo district court”.
The five individuals, all aged over 60, were arrested on 19 July in the village of Trikomo whilst visiting their ancestral properties from which they were displaced during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. They face charges of “entering a military zone, espionage and disturbing peace” as well as allegations of illegal entry through the Strovilia crossing point.
Under the bail conditions imposed by the courts, all five Greek Cypriots have paid monetary guarantees worth 200,000 Turkish lira (€4,145) and must report once weekly to the nearest police station. The courts also ordered the surrender of all travel documents and imposed exit bans preventing them from leaving the occupied north.
International condemnation follows months-long detention
The European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the detentions as “illegal and politically motivated,” calling for their immediate and unconditional release. US Congressional leaders have also urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to intervene, describing the arrests as retaliation for legal action against property developments in the occupied north.
The detainees have reportedly been held in harsh prison conditions despite suffering from chronic health issues.
Approximately 200,000 Greek Cypriots were displaced following Turkey’s 1974 invasion, which captured 37% of Cyprus’s territory. The arrests are viewed as retaliation for increasing legal challenges by the Republic of Cyprus against real estate development on Greek Cypriot-owned land in the occupied north.
The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey, does not have legal jurisdiction to perform valid property transfers according to international law and numerous UN resolutions. The occupied territories remain under Turkish military control, with the international community considering the area as illegally occupied territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
