Greek Cypriots Prepare for Major Legal Battle Over Property in İskele

Greek Cypriots who own real estate in İskele have filed a complaint with the police, alleging that their property was "illegally assessed" by foreign citizens. Alongside the government of Cyprus, they are gearing up for a legal dispute.

According to the Cyprus-Greek newspaper Politis, the legal dispute stems from "illegal and uncontrolled constructions" that have taken place in Greek-owned properties in İskele in recent years.

A group of Greek Cypriots contends that foreign citizens have "usurped" their property in İskele. After receiving the complaints, authorities, through the Land Registry Office, identified the owners of the lands in İskele where Israeli businessman Afik Yaakov (owner of Afik Group) built luxurious hotels, apartments, and individual houses.

Furthermore, the police contacted the owners to determine whether any transactions for the sale/transfer of these properties occurred and if any operations were conducted through the Real Estate Commission.

According to Politis, most people contacted by the police claimed that construction on their plots was carried out illegally and without their consent. It is noted that these actions could attract the attention of the Israeli government.

The article also provides information about the residential complex "Caesar Resort" from the developer's website, stating that out of 5700 apartments, 5000 have already been sold. It is also mentioned that the Israeli businessman "has houses and apartments in Dipkarpaz, Esentepe, İskele, and Tatlısu, and for the convenience of buyers, his website offers options in Russian, German, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish languages."

The publication suggests that Greek Cypriots owning property in various regions of Northern Cyprus may also initiate legal proceedings depending on the outcome of the initial legal processes in İskele.

It is also noted that the Israeli entrepreneur Afik Yaakov, who has residency on the South side of the island, has not appeared on the southern part of the island for several months.

The Republic of Cyprus police may demand accountability from the businessman for the completed construction work on the land owned by Greek Cypriots in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.