The Cyprus Democratic Lawyers Association (CDLA) expresses its serious concern over the recent developments in the case concerning illegal transactions involving Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas, in which the defendant pleaded guilty to a limited number of charges, while the Law Office of the Republic withdrew the majority of them.
Although this development is being presented as a procedural success, it raises substantial questions regarding the scope of the investigation and the framework of the plea arrangement, especially in light of recent information that has come to light concerning other illegal property sales and links associated with the same network of activities in the occupied territories.
The timing of these two parallel developments — the defendant’s plea of guilt and the silence surrounding recent revelations — raises legitimate concerns about the consistency of state policy and the manner in which the Republic manages the issue of property usurpation.
The suppression or marginalisation of crucial information, at a time when this issue touches upon the very institutional and national foundations of the Republic of Cyprus, reinforces the perception that the state’s approach remains fragmented, inward-looking, and lacking strategic direction.
The CDLA stresses that the property issue is not merely a series of criminal proceedings or isolated breaches of law. It constitutes a structural component of the continuity of the Republic of Cyprus and a measure of state credibility. Selective prosecution, partial compromises, and public silence surrounding related activities project a dangerous image of complacency and tolerance towards the de facto legitimisation of the consequences of occupation.
The Republic of Cyprus possesses a comprehensive legal framework to address such phenomena and must apply it uniformly and transparently, without political or communicative considerations. The consistent and even application of the law is a condition for the survival of the rule of law and a prerequisite for the international defence of the Republic’s sovereignty and legality.
The CDLA remains committed to defending transparency, institutional consistency, and the continuity of the rule of law, remaining independent of political expediencies or compromise-driven approaches.