Greek lawyer Georgios Bartzokis has been arrested in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus on suspicion of espionage, in a case that has sparked political and diplomatic reactions.
According to Turkish Cypriot media, Bartzokis was allegedly caught photographing military installations on 27 June. He was detained by the police and appeared before the unrecognised “Nicosia District Court,” where a judge ordered him held for four days.
Images published in local reports show the lawyer in handcuffs, escorted by a man believed to be a member of the occupation forces. Authorities claim that photos of Turkish military facilities, the Turkish embassy barracks, and buildings linked to the “pseudo-parliament” were found on his phone and camera equipment.
Bartzokis, a well-known figure in Greece and one of the lawyers representing victims of the Tempi train disaster, has denied all accusations, stating that the photos were taken purely “for personal souvenir purposes.”
The charge of espionage in the occupied north carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the incident and is coordinating with the Cypriot government. The Greek embassy in Nicosia has filed a formal protest with UNFICYP, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, which often mediates in such cases.
Cypriot officials have described the detention as illegal, stressing that the north remains under Turkish military occupation and that any proceedings from unrecognised authorities lack legal standing under international law.
The case remains under close watch, and diplomatic pressure is expected to intensify if the lawyer is not released promptly.
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