Lefkara Mayor Sofoklis Sofokleous on Tuesday, January 20, sharply criticized the Cyprus government for years of inaction regarding abandoned Turkish Cypriot properties in his community and stated that he is ready to “take matters into his own hands.” Speaking in Parliament, he emphasized that since 2017 he has repeatedly contacted successive Ministers of Interior but has never received a response, describing such treatment as insulting.
It is recalled that the Minister of Interior is officially the administrator of Turkish Cypriot property in areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. However, according to the mayor, in practice this control remains merely formal.
More than 100 properties without proper maintenance since 1963
According to Sofokleous, there are 105 properties in Lefkara owned by Turkish Cypriots that have remained abandoned since 1963. Some of them have protected monument status, yet the condition of these buildings deteriorates year after year. The mayor stated that the state is obliged to take responsibility for their preservation, as many houses are in a dangerous condition and pose a threat to others. He also suggested that some vacant structures may be used for illegal activities, including drug trafficking, which heightens the concern of local residents.
Allegations of illegal transactions
The head of the municipality spoke of chronic ineffective management of Turkish Cypriot property “with the tacit consent of the state.” According to him, it is known who and how uses these properties, as well as what steps have been taken toward the de facto legalization of their transfer to third parties.
Sofokleous cited examples of informal deals in which people who were not Greek Cypriot refugees and had no right to live in such houses paid amounts ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 euros to families living there in order to gain control of the property. He stressed that such practices undermine trust in the system of managing state property.
“Either the state will solve the problem, or I will”
The mayor of Lefkara stated that if the situation does not change, he is ready to act independently, even if this goes beyond standard procedures. At the same time, he noted that he is aware of the possible political and civil responsibility.
As an example, he cited a case where he personally ordered the locks to be changed in a vacant house so that a pregnant woman could move in. Subsequently, her residence was officially legalized. According to Sofokleous, if houses are transferred to people for residence on legal grounds, the problem can be considered resolved.
Position of the Ministry of Interior
A representative of the Ministry of Interior, Eleni Karekla, responding to the criticism, acknowledged the existence of problems with Turkish Cypriot property in Lefkara but emphasized that the government controls the situation. According to her data, there are 88 properties in the village, of which 59 are residential, 11 are used for professional purposes, and 18 remain abandoned.
She confirmed that in a number of cases violations have been identified, including non-payment of rent and failure to renew contracts after the death of the original tenants. State services have already sent notifications to debtors, and additional measures will be taken against those who continue to ignore the requirements.
Inspections and plans for the coming months
Regarding vacant and potentially dangerous buildings, Karekla reported that civil engineers have been instructed to conduct visual inspections. According to her, at least two properties are already known that are planned to be demolished due to their dangerous condition.
It was also announced that the next phase of publication of Turkish Cypriot properties available for rent is scheduled for April, and it is expected that properties in Lefkara will also be included. Members of Parliament, in turn, called on the government to present a clear schedule for the restoration and cleanup of abandoned buildings in order to put an end to the prolonged crisis.