The Republic of Cyprus has launched a full-scale diplomatic response following the illegal detention of five Greek Cypriot refugees in the occupied area of Trikomo on Saturday 19 July, by the Turkish occupation regime. The individuals were reportedly “arrested” on charges of espionage, unauthorised entry, and violating a forbidden military zone, raising serious concerns in Nicosia and prompting immediate international engagement.
The incident
According to reports from the occupied north and the illegal Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK, one of the detainees, a 66-year-old man, entered the area with his vehicle around 16:00 on Saturday, allegedly without completing the required procedures at the Strovilia crossing point and by entering a restricted military zone. Along with four other passengers—two men and two women, all aged around 60—he was subsequently “arrested”.
TAK further claimed that a large number of documents, including a map, were found in the vehicle. Separately, the Turkish Cypriot outlet Kibris Postasi alleged the five were collecting information about construction sites on so-called “Turkish-owned properties” in the area.
The detainees were taken before a “court” in occupied Famagusta and remanded in custody for three days, while investigations by the occupying authorities continue. According to current information, they are expected to be brought again before the pseudo-state’s court, although the date remains unclear.
Nicosia’s response
Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed in statements to RIK that the Republic of Cyprus is treating the matter with utmost seriousness, characterising the detentions as illegal and without any international legitimacy. From the very outset, the incident was formally reported to the United Nations, and EU member state ambassadors in Cyprus were also briefed.
Nicosia remains in constant contact with the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and is coordinating efforts through the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters. According to Letymbiotis, UN personnel have established communication with the detainees’ relatives, exploring ways to facilitate visits, deliver personal items, and provide medication, if needed.
Letymbiotis reiterated that no equivalence can be drawn between this incident and any legal proceedings carried out by the Republic of Cyprus in defence of refugees’ human rights or in pursuit of justice regarding the usurpation of Greek Cypriot property. He also noted that an additional charge of “illegal entry into military zones” now appears to have been levelled against the five citizens.
Warnings and wider concerns
When asked whether a travel advisory would be issued, Letymbiotis cautioned that any Greek Cypriot choosing to visit the occupied territories—even for the purpose of visiting ancestral homes—must be aware of the risks. He stressed that no institutional safeguards exist in the north, which remains a legally unrecognised regime, known to engage in provocative, arbitrary, and legally unfounded actions.
Letymbiotis also reflected on the broader diplomatic climate, referring to recent expectations following a high-level meeting in New York between President Nikos Christodoulides, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. He expressed disappointment, noting that the behaviour of the occupation regime is not consistent with any spirit of goodwill or cooperation, casting doubt on Turkey’s true intentions in the region.
International dimension
The case highlights the fragile nature of the situation in Cyprus’s occupied north, where Greek Cypriots remain vulnerable to politically motivated detentions. The Republic of Cyprus continues efforts to internationalise the case, and if necessary, will pursue further diplomatic actions to ensure the rights and safety of its citizens are respected.
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