Lithuanian estate agent to be extradited to Cyprus over northern property case

Nicosia, Cyprus. A Lithuanian estate agent accused of usurping Greek Cypriot-owned property in northern Cyprus is expected to be extradited to the island after her arrest in France under a European arrest warrant, according to reports on Saturday.

French court ruling

The woman was arrested at Nice airport and appealed against the execution of the warrant.

A French court ruled that the warrant could be executed, despite an earlier ruling in the case of Iranian national Behdad Jafari which found that the European Union acquis communautaire could not be applied in northern Cyprus, where it is suspended.

France operates under a civil law system, unlike Cyprus’ common law system, meaning the Jafari ruling was not binding on subsequent courts. The Lithuanian national is now expected to be extradited to Cyprus to face court proceedings.

Property prosecutions

The case comes as Cyprus has increased efforts in recent years to prosecute people accused of illegally advertising the sale of, or constructing buildings on, Greek Cypriot-owned property in the north.

Israeli property developer Simon Aykut was sentenced to five years in prison in October last year after pleading guilty to 40 charges relating to the development and sale of Greek Cypriot property in the north. He was sent to Israel in April to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Other cases

More recently, the German embassy in Nicosia issued a strong protest demanding the release of a woman who has been held in custody for two years on accusations of advertising Greek Cypriot-owned real estate in northern Cyprus.

The woman was arrested in 2024 after a conversation on a flight with Elam member of the European Parliament Geadis Geadi, during which prosecutors allege she admitted selling Greek Cypriot-owned property in the north. She has remained in custody since then.

Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman has also criticised the Republic of Cyprus’ policy of arresting people accused of illegally using property owned by Greek Cypriots.