Nicosia: The Law Office of the Republic of Cyprus has highlighted the significance of the French Court of Appeal's decision in Aix-en-Provence, dated July 1, 2026. The court agreed to execute a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Cypriot authorities against a Lithuanian national involved in the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties located in the Turkish-occupied regions of Cyprus. According to Cyprus News Agency, the Lithuanian suspect was apprehended in France on May 16, 2026, as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. This development contrasts with a previous decision by the same court on December 10, 2025, which denied executing a similar warrant against an Iranian national for related offenses. The Law Office credited this positive outcome to a well-coordinated effort by a team of legal experts from the Republic's Law Office, under the leadership of the Attorney General and the Assistant Attorney General. This team collaborated with France's prosecutorial authorities based on mutual trust, cruci al for judicial cooperation within the EU for enforcing European Arrest Warrants. Cyprus was permitted to participate in the French court proceedings, represented by lawyers appointed by the Attorney General. During these proceedings, Cyprus articulated its legal stance on interpreting Protocol No. 10 of its EU Accession Treaty, referencing the Court of Justice of the European Union's case law and applying the European Arrest Warrant framework to usurpation crimes in the occupied territories. The French Court's decision effectively overturned its previous reasoning from December 2025 regarding the Iranian national. It concluded that crimes committed in Cypriot areas under non-government control do not hinder the application of European law nor prevent executing a European Arrest Warrant issued by Cypriot courts. The ruling reiterated that the suspension of EU law's application in occupied territories does not impede its enforcement concerning Cypriot court decisions on property offenses in these areas. Fur thermore, the court emphasized that the 'trnc' in occupied areas violates international law, specifically the prohibition of acquiring territory by force, and stressed the obligation not to recognize this illegal situation. The Law Office expressed that this decision reaffirms the proper application of EU law concerning Cyprus's jurisdiction over offenses in occupied territories while upholding international law principles and correcting the French court's earlier error. Cyprus has remained divided since Turkey's 1974 invasion and occupation of its northern part, with numerous UN-led peace efforts achieving no resolution. The declaration of independence by a breakaway entity in the Turkish-occupied areas on November 15, 1983, was deemed illegal by the UN Security Council and the global community.