A coalition of Turkish Cypriot organisations on Monday demanded the release of businesspeople arrested by the Republic of Cyprus on the charge of developing or promoting the development of Greek Cypriot properties in the north.
The self-styled ‘Initiative for the Protection of Rights’ held a demonstration on the Turkish Cypriot side of the Ayios Dhometios crossing point in Nicosia.
In a message intended for authorities in the south, they held up banners that read: “You will not be able to destroy the Turkish Cypriots.”
Featuring hundreds of protesters, the initiative included the Turkish Cypriot contractors association, the Turkish Cypriot chamber of commerce, the hoteliers association, the bar association and the association of realtors.
The demonstrators demanded the immediate release of Israeli property developer Simon Mistriel Aykut, as well as Ewa Kunzel, Ilona Lesko and Melinda Ladanyi – all arrested in the Republic on charges relating to the development of properties in the north that belong to Greek Cypriots.
In a statement read out by Hasan Esendagli, head of the Turkish Cypriot bar association, the initiative accused the Greek Cypriot side of “weaponising” its justice system in dealing with the property issue.
“Despite the ongoing and sincere efforts of the Turkish Cypriots, including with the Annan Plan and the negotiations at Crans-Montana, which would have resolved all the aspects of the Cyprus problem, including the issue of property status, no comprehensive solution has yet been reached, and this is a source of great grief,” the statement read.
“The refusal of the Greek Cypriot community to compromise is the principal reason for this deadlock.”
According to the statement, the Greek Cypriot crackdown on businesspeople engaging in property development in the north constitutes a bad-faith move that also threatens economic activity in the north of Cyprus.
Esendagli stated that the Immovable Property Commission, recognised by the European Court of Human Rights as an effective remedy, continues to offer a fair and efficient solution to property claims.
He said the property issue is directly linked to the Cyprus problem and should be addressed through comprehensive negotiations. He went on to condemn the arrests and criminal proceedings against Turkish Cypriots and foreign investors, noting that such actions are not a viable solution and contradict ECHR rulings.
Esendagli went on to call on the international community to encourage the Republic of Cyprus to avoid actions that exacerbate tensions, such as the arrests of Turkish Cypriots, European citizens, and other foreign investors, and to refrain from “using the law as a weapon”.
In addition to Aykut, Kunzel, Lesko and Ladanyi, authorities in the south have arrested and charged 25-year-old Israeli national Yazan Sarai Eldin.
They all face criminal trials.
