This written declaration does not reflect the position of the Assembly; only of those members that have signed it. It will not be considered further by the Assembly.
We, the undersigned, declare the following:
We would like to express our deep concern over a serious violation
of human rights and international law that undermines the values
and principles of the Parliamentary Assembly. For over a month now,
five citizens of the Republic of Cyprus remain unlawfully imprisoned
by the regime subordinate to Türkiye in the occupied area of Cyprus.
Their only "offense" was to attempt to visit and reclaim their lawful
properties in the village of Gastria, in the Famagusta district,
from which they were expelled decades ago. Those citizens have been
accused of "illegal entry, trespassing, espionage and disturbing
the peace". They are being held in degrading conditions despite
their advanced age. This is not a simple incident; this is a pattern
of intimidation. It constitutes a violation of international law
and the European Convention of Human Rights (ETS No. 5) and undermines
the principle of reconciliation.
We call on the Assembly to condemn the unlawful arrest and
continued detention of the five Greek Cypriot citizens and demand
their immediate release. We also urge Türkiye to comply with its
international obligations. We reaffirm that respect for human rights,
including the right to property, is a non-negotiable foundation
of any just and lasting solution in Cyprus.
