Supreme Court finds state failed to investigate 1974 disappearance of Hadjigeorgiou father and son

Strongylos, Cyprus. The Republic failed to properly investigate the disappearance of Loizos Hadjigeorgiou and his son Giorgos following the 1974 Turkish invasion, despite opportunities to examine people allegedly involved in their abduction, the family’s lawyer said on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court ruled last week that the state had failed to fulfil its obligation to investigate the case and awarded the family €100,000 in compensation.

Supreme Court ruling

The court found violations of Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, concerning the right to life and protection from inhuman or degrading treatment.

It said the circumstances of the case differed from disappearances occurring during military operations and required a “targeted, specialised and intensive investigation” into possible criminal responsibility.

Abduction allegations

Loizos and Giorgos Hadjigeorgiou were unarmed Greek Cypriot civilians from Strongylos in the Famagusta district.

They were abducted from the village on August 15, 1974, during the second phase of Operation Atilla.

Evidence before the Supreme Court indicated that they were allegedly taken by armed Turkish Cypriot villagers who were citizens of the Republic.

Lawyer’s comments

Speaking to Alpha TV, lawyer Antonis Georgiou said the case should have been treated as a criminal matter in addition to one concerning the political circumstances of the Turkish invasion.

“The state failed to realise that, despite the political dimension and the difficulties that exist due to the invasion, this did not cease to be a purely criminal case,” he said.

Georgiou said there had been opportunities to investigate individuals allegedly connected to the abduction after they entered the government-controlled areas.