Researcher Odysseas Christou says he is close to identifying a 1974 captive shown in a haunting photograph standing blindfolded and with his hands tied among those who held him, telling Philenews that evidence and testimonies point to missing person Makis Sergidis.
Christou said he is convinced, based on his research and testimonies, that the man in the photograph is Sergidis. He said the Committee on Missing Persons also appears to agree with that conclusion.
The researcher said the analysis and testimonies support the view that the captive is Sergidis, who is believed to have been taken prisoner by the Turkish army in the Ayios Dimitrios area after leaving, despite a warning from his commander, to feed horses in an area considered dangerous.
Christou said he reached the conclusion through material gathered during his long-running research and through spontaneous testimonies that emerged after the photograph was posted.
One of those testimonies, he said, involved a little-known detail that Sergidis had worked in Bellapais as manager of a chicken farm. “From the farm, I also have a photograph taken by a peacekeeper around July 24, showing a tractor. At that time, this valuable tool was used to dig trenches and bury the dead,” he said.
Christou’s research has also been assisted by photographs provided by Sergidis’ family. He said those photographs produced further details that match verified documents concerning a horse stable that fell into the hands of the invading forces.
“The pen in the photograph taken by the Turks and in the one from Sergidis’ relatives appears to be made of the same materials. The relatives also confirm this, while the same horse also appears to be visible. I believe it is him,” he said.
Christou said his next step would focus on another captive linked to the man in the photograph. “It is the captive with the patterned shirt — that is what I call him — whom I also locate in release photographs. I will look for him so the events can be linked and the place and people identified,” he said.
The case concerns the subject and photograph published by Philenews on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Christou will also investigate a black Mercedes seen in the photograph, which he said is linked to testimonies involving other captives and missing persons. He also plans to examine the Turkish men shown in the image. “An officer, soldiers and a man in civilian clothes appear, as well as a known journalist,” he said.
Christou said the publication of the photograph had also sparked discussion in the occupied areas.
He said his broader aim is to increase pressure for all documents held by Turkey to be brought to light, so missing persons can be located.
On the recording of the photograph as evidence linked to a specific person, Christou said there is no prescribed procedure.
“I sent a report and spoke with the CMP. They appear to agree that it is Makis Sergidis, but for them, what matters is finding the remains,” he said.
Christou also said caution is maintained over photographs of missing persons, both because some people in the past exploited relatives’ pain for profit and because mistakes were made in identifications carried out hastily.
