On Friday, a court in Cyprus sentenced two Hungarian nationals to prison for their involvement in brokering the sale of properties in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island. These properties were originally seized from Greek Cypriots who fled during the 1974 war.
The two women were found guilty of advertising and facilitating the sale of coastal properties without the permission of the registered owners in the self-declared Turkish Cypriot state, which is recognized only by Turkey.
The verdict underscores the complex and sensitive nature of property rights in Cyprus, where thousands lost homes and land due to displacement and the 1974 Turkish invasion. The properties in question have since been redistributed and repeatedly bought and sold, attracting significant high-end investment in recent years.
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The Criminal Court in the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government-controlled southern part of Cyprus handed down sentences of 2.5 years and 15 months to the two women, according to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA). They had pleaded guilty to several charges, and prosecutors suspended others. The women were arrested in late 2024 after arriving in the south.
Greek Cypriot authorities have been increasingly taking legal action against foreign nationals investing in disputed properties in northern Cyprus, a move that has caused friction in efforts to restart peace talks between the two sides. There are currently two other similar cases pending before the courts. The verdict is likely to anger Turkish Cypriots.
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