Nicosia: President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has emphasized that the verdict by the so-called “military court” in the Turkish-occupied territories, concerning the five Greek Cypriots who have been abducted and are being unlawfully detained, is “an illegal and fascist decision” by the occupation regime. He stated that this decision will ultimately harm the Turkish Cypriots the most.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides also advised Greek Cypriots who find it necessary to travel to the occupied areas to exercise extreme caution. He made these remarks to journalists on Saturday evening before attending the Famagusta Anti-occupation event, where he underscored the importance of honoring those who resisted the Turkish invasion and reiterated the ongoing commitment to reunite Cyprus, with Famagusta symbolizing this struggle.
Addressing the decision of the so-called military court regarding the detained Greek Cypriots, the President labeled it as an “illegal, pirate, and fascist decision” by the occupation regime. He remarked that ultimately, this stance harms Turkish Cypriots and reveals that Tatar is indifferent to their plight.
President Christodoulides further urged Greek Cypriots to be vigilant when approaching the occupied areas, especially in light of the recent actions by the occupation regime, which he described as displaying “pirate behavior.”
In response to a report from Moscow alleging he is Russophobic, President Christodoulides recalled past accusations of him being a Russian agent, highlighting the inconsistency of such claims.
The five Greek Cypriots, all older than 60, were unlawfully apprehended on July 19 near Turkish-occupied Trikomo. Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and subsequent occupation of its northern third. The unilateral declaration of independence by a breakaway entity on November 15, 1983, in the occupied areas, was condemned by the UN Security Council and the international community as legally null and void.
UN-led peace talks have repeatedly failed due to Turkish intransigence, with the last round of negotiations in July 2017 at Crans-Montana ending without resolution. A second informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format occurred in New York on July 16-17, 2025, after a previous meeting in Geneva. Another meeting is anticipated later this year to advance initiatives agreed upon by the parties. UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres noted that these efforts demonstrate a commitment to dialogue, and he plans to meet with Cyprus leaders during the General Assembly high-level week in September.