Recently suspended Paphos mayor Fedonas Fedonos has found himself at the center of a new large-scale investigation. The audit revealed systemic violations in the management of Turkish Cypriot properties — ranging from illegal demolitions of buildings to generating income from plots allocated on preferential terms.
It should be noted that Fedonos was suspended from his position in March 2026 after a number of serious charges were brought against him. Court proceedings in the case are ongoing, with the first hearing scheduled for April 21, 2026.
What the investigation revealed
The investigation was conducted by the management of the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service and covers the period since 2015, when Fedonos first took office as mayor. It was based on inspections carried out in February 2025.
It was found that out of 110 active lease agreements, 92 were concluded or modified after 2015. These agreements covered various types of real estate — from urban buildings and monuments to agricultural land. Many of the properties were located in central Paphos and were intended for restoration, but their actual use often did not match the stated purposes.
Systemic violations and conflict of interest
One of the key issues identified was a conflict of interest. The municipality simultaneously acted as a planning authority and as an interested party seeking to obtain the same properties. In practice, this led to situations where, after acquiring one plot, applications were submitted for adjacent land under the pretext of special needs. Investigators viewed this as a scheme to expand control over state property.
The violations were systemic in nature. In several cases, buildings were demolished without notifying the Ministry of Interior, after which new applications were submitted for the same properties. Land allocated for public purposes remained unused or had its designation changed. Plots intended for public use were generating income, for example through paid parking. The scale of the issue is reflected in the figures: out of 31 lease violations across Cyprus by early 2025, 18 — or 58% — were recorded in Paphos alone.
Land recovery and reforms
Police investigations are already underway in two cases. One involves a 17,000 m² property subleased to a private individual. The second concerns a large-scale project and the management of municipal property. In spring 2025, the Ministry of Interior terminated the lease of a 21,424 m² plot due to failure to meet obligations for more than five years. Some properties have already been returned to the state, and authorities plan to allocate them to those in need, including refugees.
At the same time, Cyprus is updating its legislation governing the management of Turkish Cypriot properties. New rules provide for stricter controls, transparent criteria, and limit opportunities for abuse that previously arose due to the broad powers of managing authorities.
The situation in Paphos remains one of the most widely discussed in the country. The investigation is ongoing, and the findings have intensified attention on the management of state property in Cyprus. Experts note that this case could become a turning point for the entire system, as it has already led to tighter controls and a reassessment of approaches to land allocation.