Strasbourg: The European Parliament condemned on Thursday the illegal detention of five Greek Cypriots in the Turkish occupied territories of Cyprus, demanding their immediate release, in a resolution adopted during its plenary session in Strasbourg, following Wednesday’s debate.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the resolution was supported by all major political groups (The Left, S and D, Renew, PPE, ECR), receiving 597 votes in favor out of 602, with the other 5 MEPs abstaining. MEPs condemned Turkey’s continued illegal occupation of the northern part of Cyprus for 51 years and denounced the serious violation of international law, which poses an obstacle to peace, stability, and relations between the European Union and Turkey.
The resolution highlighted that the detention since July 2025 of the five Greek Cypriots, after visiting their properties in the village of Galatia, is “illegal and politically motivated”. Although three individuals were released under conditions on 10 September, they remain in the occupied territory and cannot return to their homes.
MEPs stated that the Turkish military occupation regime is escalating intimidation through abduction and hostage-taking. This targets individuals attempting to visit their ancestral properties or appeal to the ‘Immovable Property Commission’ in the occupied areas.
Furthermore, MEPs emphasized that the EU has a moral and legal obligation to support the Republic of Cyprus and its citizens, who are also EU citizens. They called on the Commission and the European External Action Service to take all necessary measures, including considering punitive actions.
The resolution included an oral amendment by Cypriot AKEL (The Left) MEP Giorgos Georgiou, confirming the release on parole of three Greek Cypriots by an unrecognized military court on September 10, 2025, but stressing that they remain in the occupied areas and cannot return to their homes.
The five Greek Cypriots were reportedly ‘arrested’ on July 19 in the Turkish-occupied village of Trikomo, in the northern part of Cyprus, while visiting their properties and were charged by the ‘authorities’ of the illegal regime with ‘illegal entry’ and other charges.
The Cyprus government has condemned the arrests, calling for the immediate release of the five, while a European Commission spokesperson reaffirmed that the EU ‘does not recognise the self-proclaimed state in the northern part of Cyprus and its so-called judicial system.’
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results, with the latest round of negotiations in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ending inconclusively.