The decision of the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence, France, dated July 1, 2026, to grant the request for the execution of a European Arrest Warrant issued by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus against a Lithuanian national in connection with the misappropriation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas of the Republic, the Legal Service states in a press release.

It notes that the suspect was arrested in France on May 16, 2026, in connection with a criminal case. In a similar case, the same Court of Appeals had previously ruled on December 10, 2025, to reject the execution of a corresponding European Arrest Warrant issued by theauthorities of the Republic of Cyprus against an Iranian national suspected of potentially committing criminal offenses again related to the misappropriation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas.

“This very positive development is the result of a coordinated and intensive effort by a large team of legal officials from the Republic’s Legal Service, consisting of officials from the International Law Division, the Criminal Law Division, and the Fugitives Division, under the guidance of the Attorney General of the Republic and the Deputy Attorney General of the Republic, together with the competent Ministry of Justice and Public Order, in cooperation with the relevant prosecutorial authorities in France, based on the principle of mutual trust, which is of fundamental importance in the context of judicial cooperation among EU member states for the effective implementation of the European Arrest Warrant framework,” it is emphasized.

Specifically, the Legal Service notes that the Republic of Cyprus, following the submission of its request to the French Court, was authorized to participate—through attorneys appointed by the Attorney General of the Republic—in the proceedings before the Court of Appeals.

In this context, the Republic of Cyprus set forth its legal positions regarding the correct interpretation of Protocol No. 10 to the Act of Accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union, based on the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the application of the institutional framework for the execution of European Arrest Warrants with regard to the specific offenses of embezzlement committed in the occupied territories.

“These actions resulted in the complete reversal of the reasoning behind the decision of December 10, 2025, which was issued by the same French Court of Appeal in response to a request to execute a European Arrest Warrant against the Iranian national, with the French Court of Appeal, in the present case, to rule that the fact that the offenses under investigation were committed in areas of the Republic of Cyprus over which the Government does not exercise effective control, does not preclude the application of the European acquis nor does it prevent the execution of a European Arrest Warrant issued by a competent court of the Republic of Cyprus,” it is noted.

It is also emphasized, the text adds, that the suspension of the application of the acquis communautaire in the occupied areas pursuant to Protocol No. 10 of the Act of Accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union must be interpreted narrowly and does not preclude the application of Union law in relation to decisions of Cypriot courts that concern offenses against real property in the occupied areas.

Furthermore, the Legal Service notes that the French Court of Appeal emphasized that the so-called “TRNC” in the occupied areas is the result of a serious violation of international law, which prohibits the use of force and the acquisition of territory by force. Consequently, there is an obligation not to recognize this illegal situation and to refrain from any action that would contribute to its perpetuation.

“This decision confirms the correct interpretation and application of EU law in conjunction with the jurisdiction of the Republic of Cyprus regarding offenses committed in the occupied areas, as well as the commitment to the fundamental principles of international law, with full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the internationally recognized jurisdiction of the Republic of Cyprus over its territory, and corrects the previous erroneous approach of the French Court of Appeals,” the Legal Service concludes.

Source: CNA