Three of the five Greek Cypriots who were “arrested” on July 19 by the occupation authorities, following their “acquittal” by the so-called “military court” in the occupied territories, have returned home.

The three, after completing the procedures, went to occupied Trikomo to collect their identity cards and personal belongings held at the “police station” there, and then crossed over to the free areas. One from a nearby crossing point and the other two from the Lekosia barricade.

The two remain in custody

Two of the five, a couple, are still being held in the occupied territories as they face two “charges” in the so-called “provincial court”. The Turkish occupation authorities have so far not given a clear explanation of the nature of the charges, but they are reportedly related to “violating a military zone” and “illegal photography.”

The case had provoked strong reactions in Nicosia, as it was considered that the arrests and proceedings before occupation “courts” constituted a flagrant violation of human rights and international law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus is closely monitoring the development and is continuing diplomatic actions for the release of both remaining detainees.

The case is part of a series of incidents of harassment of Greek Cypriot citizens by the occupation regime, mainly in areas close to the line of confrontation, which have heightened concerns about growing arbitrariness in the occupied territories.