Greek Cypriot side using lawyer as ‘political tool’
THE Greek Cypriot administration of South Cyprus is using the arrest of a Turkish Cypriot lawyer in Italy for political purposes, the head of the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association, Hasan Esendağlı, has said.
Providing his perspective on the arrest of Akan Kürşat earlier this month on a European arrest warrant, allegedly in relation to dealings dating back two decades involving former Greek Cypriot real estate in North Cyprus, Esendağlı evaluated Kürşat’s detention situation and the property-related aspect of the Cyprus issue.
He characterised it as an attempt to exploit the legal instruments of the European Union.
According to Esendağlı, Kürşat's actions align with the laws of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and he criticised the Greek Cypriot Administration for leveraging their EU membership to exert pressure on Turkish Cypriots.
Esendağlı described the Greek Cypriot stance as “dangerous”, hindering the resolution of the Cyprus issue and impeding negotiations.
“The Republic of Cyprus criminalises certain acts within its territory and makes it feasible to do so, especially against Turkish Cypriots.
“By using the legal advantages of its EU membership, it uses an intercommunal, interstate issue as a tool to exert pressure on individuals, which is very dangerous.”
Expressing concern about Kürşat’s situation, Esendağlı stated that the situation had reached alarming levels, with Kürşat being used as a “political tool”.
He remarked: “Unfortunately, our colleague has virtually been taken hostage.”
Esendağlı stressed the need for the involvement of officials from the TRNC and Türkiye.
“It is uncertain how this process will end,” he said. “We are watching with great concern and apprehension. As legal experts and lawyers who are citizens of both the TRNC and the ‘Republic of Cyprus’, we believe that every agency of our state, as well as Türkiye, should take a stand with our colleague Akan Kürşat on this matter, and that it is essential to try to resolve this through more official means of communication as much as possible, because I have to say that we will proceed with very narrow legal instruments before the Italian judiciary.”
Addressing the potential impact on foreign investments in the TRNC, Esendağlı stated that it is premature to discuss this aspect.
He highlighted the importance of focusing on the immediate concern – the policy and initiative threatening the security and freedom of Turkish Cypriots, particularly Kürşat.
Esendağlı emphasised that resolving this issue is the current priority, while any impact on foreign property investments will be determined over time.
Meanwhile the TRNC-based Human Rights Association condemned the arrest of Kürşat in Italy on the charge of “selling Greek Cypriot properties in North Cyprus” and called on the Italian government and its judiciary for his immediate release.
A statement issued by the association referred to the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and a US court regarding Greek Cypriots’ not having the right to return to the North and noted: “In the ECHR decision, although international recognition of the regime in the northern area is lacking, a de-facto recognition of the regime’s actions in the northern area may be deemed necessary for practical purposes.
“Therefore, the TRNC authorities adopting civil, administrative or criminal law measures and implementing them in the regime zone in the northern area or considering the sanctioning obligation to have a legal basis in domestic law for the ECHR’s purposes are a sufficient legal basis for the release of Turkish Cypriot lawyer Akan Kürşat by the Italian government.”