Turkish Cypriots Stand Firm Against Greek Cypriot Property Sanctions

Arrest Warrants to be issued

Erhan Arıklı’s declaration, reported by Kıbrıs Gazetesi under the headline “Arıklı açıkladı: Güney Kıbrıs’a yaptırımlar yolda”.

These actions come in direct response to the Greek Cypriot administration’s arrests of foreign nationals and developers accused of dealing in Greek Cypriot‑owned land in Northern Cyprus, a campaign widely viewed by Turkish Cypriots as a form of political harassment disguised as judicial enforcement. Arıklı, the leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) and TRNC Minister of Public Works and Transport, makes clear: “Our actions will be much tougher… Perhaps existing crossing points may be restricted.” His remarks not only signal an impending shift in TRNC policy but also reflect a broader national consensus that continued silence in the face of Greek Cypriot provocation is no longer tenable.

“One of the measures we will take is issuing arrest warrants for those using Turkish properties in Southern Cyprus. We will initiate steps to issue an international arrest warrant through Türkiye.” Erhan Arıklı - Minister of Public Works and Transport

Context: Reciprocal Legal Measures Amidst Escalating Property Disputes

Greek Cypriot authorities have launched prosecutions since 2023 against individuals, including Israelis, Germans and Hungarians, who bought or marketed Greek Cypriot properties in the TRNC. In May 2025, for instance, a court in the Republic sentenced two Hungarian nationals for brokering such transactions, imposing prison terms of 30 and 15 months respectively .

This campaign is widely perceived in Northern Cyprus as legal intimidation, designed to destabilise Turkish Cypriot investment, economic growth, and, critically, their claims to equality under property and human rights law.

Legal Arguments

1. Reciprocity Under International Law

Arıklı frames their response squarely on the principle of reciprocity: Greek Cypriots pursued arrests in the north, so the TRNC’s response must be equivalent. Indeed, Cyprus Mail archives state:

“it is essential that we take similar steps… include arrests for Greek Cypriots who have any control over Turkish properties in the south.”

This is not reckless sabotage—it is structured, legal counteraction aimed at protecting Turkish Cypriot property rights.

2. Defending Economic Balance and Freedom of Movement

Arıklı warns that the Greek Cypriot arrests are destabilising: “People on both sides could cross peacefully… But this is slowly disappearing.” His warning, about potential crossing closures, underscores the frailty of everyday bi‑communal rapprochement . These sanctions threaten not only investment but interpersonal ties and economic stability.

3. UN‑Backed Remedy Structures Endorsed by the TRNC

Northern Cyprus operates the Immovable Property Commission (IPC), a UN‑mandated body established to handle property claims. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) supports its use alongside compensation or restitution. Indeed, Arıklı himself proffered that Varosha could be transferred to the IPC under UN supervision .

Thus, the TRNC’s stance is not arbitrary, it follows international legal precedents privileging fairness and non‑discrimination.

4. Two‑State Solution and Türkiye’s Support

While the Greek Cypriot side invokes a federal framework, the TRNC increasingly opts for two‑state realism, bolstered by legal sovereignty and Türkiye’s defense guarantees. Arıklı’s mention that prior opening of Maraş (Varosha) did not elicit condemnations “when we opened Maraş, they couldn’t say ‘why are you opening it?’” signals growing international acquiescence.

Türkiye’s support cements this path: the TRNC’s government solidly stands behind its legal and economic responses—justified, reciprocal, and backed by a strong ally.

TRNC’s Legal Counteroffensive: Assertive Action in Defense of Sovereignty

Turkish Cypriots are often sidelined in international discourse. The Greek Cypriot prosecutions represent a continued effort to pressure Northern Cyprus through judicial means—threatening foreign investment, chilling cross‑border ties, and deploying legal pressure as political coercion.

— The TRNC’s response is thus not only legal but an assertive safeguard of fundamental rights.
— The TRNC also signals readiness to escalate: international arrest warrants, restriction of crossings, and far more "harsh" measures.

This is unequivocal activism for equality and respect. It communicates: Turkish Cypriots will not be intimidated; their property rights are not disposable; their sovereignty demands equitable treatment.

Pressing for Peace via Strength

Greek Cypriot authorities claim their actions are apolitical and required by law. Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis emphasized that “the Republic … is acting within the framework of the rule of law” .

Yet, major international voices and analysts interpret the route differently. Former Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami and Volt party’s Hulusi Kilim described the prosecutorial zeal as reactionary tactics against the TRNC’s two‑state push, rather than neutral application of law .

The TRNC maintains that real pressure for renewed peace must spring from mutual respect and economic viability. Measures that threaten property ownership, free movement and investment are inherently undermining, not stabilising.

TCE Conclusion: A Call for Balanced, Legal, Mutually Respectful Resolution

Erhan Arıklı’s announcement is more than hedged rhetoric, it is a legally grounded, activist-led, measured but firm affirmation: Turkish Cypriot property, rights, and sovereignty are non-negotiable.

The TRNC’s posture, mirroring Greek Cypriot legal measures, emphasising international legal frameworks like the IPC, and mobilising contingencies from Türkiye, is a consistent, fair, and justified reaction, not an act of escalation.

The Greek Cypriot side must recognise that punitive legal action on its own cannot substitute for equitable negotiation. The TRNC has offered a constructive path, through reciprocity, legal remedies, UN mediation, and a two‑state framework supported by Türkiye. Without such mutual respect, attempts at negotiation risk remaining hollow.