Court rejects habeas corpus request
A court has rejected a request for release filed by an Indian national who married two women in an effort to secure his stay in Cyprus, ruling that his detention remains lawful.
The decision was issued by Judge L. Dimitriadou-Andreou and concerns a man who has been in custody since the summer of 2025, following a series of administrative and criminal developments related to his residency status.
Marriages used to secure residency
The case dates back to 2015, when the applicant entered Cyprus on a student visa. In the years that followed, he made repeated attempts to remain in the country, including marrying two different European citizens, both from Romania.
Authorities raised concerns as early as 2019 over the authenticity of his claims. Investigations found that the declared couple could not be located and that a falsified rental document had been submitted.
Despite this, he later obtained a five-year residence permit as the spouse of another EU national. That permit expired in October 2024, after which his stay in the Republic was deemed illegal. Criminal cases were also pending against him, including a serious arson charge.
Detention tied to ongoing legal process
The man was arrested in July 2025 over unpaid fines, triggering detention and deportation procedures. While an initial detention order was annulled, a new one was issued in September 2025 and upheld by the court in January 2026. The case remains under appeal.
He filed a habeas corpus application, arguing that his detention since July 19, 2025 had become unlawful due to its duration.
Court: detention remains lawful
The court clarified that habeas corpus proceedings examine only whether the duration of detention has become unlawful, not the legality of the detention order itself.
In this case, the court found that the applicant, who had married two women, failed to prove that his detention exceeded legal limits. It ruled that authorities acted lawfully and with due diligence.
The delay in deportation was attributed to ongoing legal actions initiated by the applicant and delays in issuing travel documents from his country of origin.
Risk of absconding highlighted
The court also accepted that there is a risk the applicant may abscond, citing his history, use of false documents, pending criminal cases and overall conduct.
It further ruled that the review of detention was valid, even though it was carried out by authorised administrative bodies rather than the Interior Minister personally.
Application dismissed
The court concluded that the detention continues to serve the lawful purpose of deportation and remains within legal limits.
The application was dismissed in full, with no costs awarded.
Also read: Eurostat: Asylum applications drop in Cyprus and EU in December 2025
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