Turkish Cypriot property service defends past land allocations to former employee

Nicosia, Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot property management service said it allocated more than 150 million square metres of land to a member of staff 30 years ago under procedures then in force. It said the contracts were terminated in 2024 following instructions from Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou.

Service response

The service responded on Wednesday to allegations raised at the House refugee committee on Tuesday.

It said the employee’s family had benefited from 150,412,000 square metres of Turkish Cypriot land. The employee has since retired and retained 31,000 square metres for agricultural use, it added.

The service said its current policy was one of zero tolerance for corruption, mismanagement and breaches of prescribed procedures.

It said it remained available to inform MPs and citizens transparently, and that complaints supported by specific evidence were investigated, with measures taken to restore legality where required.

Calls for investigation

On Tuesday, Direct Democracy MP Demetris Souglis alleged that officials of the service owned plots and homes, which he said could disadvantage genuine beneficiaries. He called for an investigation.

The service said efforts were continuing to address such issues through the proper management and protection of Turkish Cypriot property for the benefit of refugees. It added that public allegations without specific evidence submitted for investigation did not assist those efforts.

Agricultural land arrangements

The complaint follows earlier concerns over the management of Turkish Cypriot agricultural land, including in Polis Chrysochous, where non-refugee farmers have cultivated thousands of acres while receiving agricultural subsidies.

Under new interior ministry arrangements, farmers using such land must hold written agreements to demonstrate their eligibility for subsidies. Non-compliance may result in the loss of payments.