They should intervene for the release of the five
Source: in-cyprus.com
Since 19 July 2025, the occupation regime has been illegally and groundlessly holding five Greek Cypriots.
The occupying force has, as is known, abducted our five compatriots, and since then, through sham “trials”, persists in holding them unlawfully without presenting any credible charges.
To be precise, the charges lack seriousness and are unfounded. They cannot be substantiated.
The aims and objectives of the occupying side are obvious. They have abducted the Greek Cypriots for vindictive reasons and are attempting to blackmail the Republic of Cyprus.
It is clear from what is being discussed in the public sphere, mainly in the occupied areas, that these abductions constitute an act of retaliation for the arrest by the Republic of Cyprus of usurpers of Greek Cypriot properties.
At the same time, another parameter emerges. They apparently want to exchange the five illegally abducted men for the well-known Turkish-Jewish usurper, Shimon Aykut. This was not stated by the Turkish side but is continuously discussed in the occupied areas.
Of course these are two different cases. In the Republic of Cyprus, as is known and applies in all democratic states, the judiciary operates independently. And certainly the government cannot intervene for political reasons and release a person who is on trial.
The Republic of Cyprus is trying by every means to free the five. It has been doing so from day one. It is trying through strong international interventions to pressure the occupying force and secure the release of the five Greek Cypriots.
The latest intervention is that of Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos. He raised it in his intervention at the proceedings of the EU’s Informal Foreign Affairs Council (Gymnich), which took place in Copenhagen on 29 and 30 August 2025. He raised the issue of the five abducted men from the outset and through letters.
We expect our EU partners, as well as third parties, to intervene decisively and force or “persuade” the occupying force to end the illegal detention of the five abducted men. They are European citizens, and [EU partners] should—must—fight for their release.
At the same time, those visiting the occupied areas should be particularly careful and suspicious. This is because it is clear that the occupying side has changed tactics. Obviously, at any moment, arbitrarily, the occupying force can proceed to abduct Greek Cypriots.
The original article: belongs to in-cyprus.com .
