Lithuanian realtor disappears in France ahead of extradition to the Republic of Cyprus over property case in the TRNC

Rasa Zilevic, a 53-year-old Lithuanian citizen who worked as a realtor, disappeared in France shortly before being handed over to the Cypriot police. She was arrested under a European arrest warrant issued by the Republic of Cyprus as part of an investigation into former Greek Cypriot-owned property in Northern Cyprus.

According to the Politis newspaper, the warrant was issued in connection with the alleged “seizure” of property that belonged to Greek Cypriots before 1974. A French court agreed to extradite Zilevic to the Republic of Cyprus for trial, after which the date and procedure for her transfer were coordinated with the Cypriot police.

Before this stage, Zilevic was released under conditions: she was required to travel to an airport in France on her own and surrender to officers of the Cypriot police. She failed to appear on the appointed day.

According to the publication, the French police informed their Cypriot counterparts that the transfer had fallen through, and the Cypriot police officers did not fly to France. Zilevic is currently wanted by the French police.

Zilevic had previously appealed the extradition decision, and the consideration of the appeal in France was expected to take between two weeks and a month. The Republic of Cyprus has for years been seeking, through European arrest warrants, the prosecution of those who sell and register in Northern Cyprus property left by Greek Cypriots; other realtors working in the TRNC have also been subject to such warrants.