Lapithos, August 7, 1974, Praxandrou Avenue, Kanari Coast, Asprovryses area”… one hour before dusk. Four men see the blue of the sky for the last time and hear the magical sound of the summer waves of the Lapithos sea for the last time.

Stelios Christofis Onoufriou, Andreas Loizidis, Xenophon Pettemeridis, and Alagiotis.

The four men from Lapithos who were arrested and have remained missing to this day were identified thanks to a long and painstaking investigation by the historian, Odysseas Christou, who, by following the trail of photographs that came into his possession a few years ago, was able to get to the bottom of the matter and uncover the events that determined their fate.

The photographs, which Mr. Christou were able to piece together the bitter story behind the events of August 7, 1974, when Lapithos had already been occupied by the Turkish army and the four men, havinghid in some houses, attempted—after changing clothes and donning civilian attire—to make their fateful escape.

The first person visible in the photographs is Alagiotis, who was working at a local hotel at the time. It appears, as Mr. Christou surmises, that he considered it safe to surrender since Turkish journalists were present at the scene. Next is Second Lieutenant Andreas Loizidis, and bringing up the rear is the reservist soldier, Stelios Christofis Onoufriou.

Suddenly, Xenophon Petemeridis also enters the frame of the photographs; as Mr. Christou, apparently did not arrive with the three, but from some other location, where he was wounded, as a bullet wound is visible in his left hand.

Alagiotis is holding a makeshift white flag, made from a reed with a pair of white underwear tied to its end. They are signaling to the Turks that they are unarmed.

The Turks search them thoroughly and then line them up at the edge of the cliff.

In addition to the photojournalist, there was also a cameraman in the area; as Mr. Christou told us, he was able to locate a three-second clip that was broadcast by Ali Birat on Turkish television in a documentary titled “The 32nd Day.” In that short video, one of the Turkish soldiers can be seen cocking his weapon in the final shot.

Based on his analysis of the evidence, Odysseas Christou estimates that Pettemeridis must have been the first to be executed, since only three of the four are visible in one of the subsequent photographs.

In one of the subsequent photographs, another Turkish soldier rests his rifle against the chest of Stelios Onoufriou, who must have met the same fate as Pettemeridis, and then Loizidis and Alagiotis were also executed.

“For many days now, I’ve been looking at your photographs, gathering testimonies and information, and trying… I don’t even know what I’m trying to do or why…
At first, I listed you among the ‘Prisoners of War,’ and I expected that someone would recognize himself and call. They’d tell me their story, and the conversation would turn to their children and grandchildren, their work—in other words, the things they’d accomplished in life and were proud of.
The days went by; the photos were very good, and the faces were clearly visible.
Surely someone would recognize themselves, a friend, or a fellow soldier.
“They must be on vacation,” I said, and it seemed like a logical explanation.
One photograph was the key: were they leaving, or were they heading to their execution?
They never left…
behind the Hermes kiosk,
on Praxandrou Avenue,
on the Kanari coast,
in the Asprovryses area,
in Lapithos,
that’s where the Leventes of Lapithos were executed.
August 7, 1974, one o’clock, just before dusk.”

With these thoughts in mind in 2022, Odysseas Christou had come to realize that the photographs he had released to the public in an effort to help the four brave men of Lapithos identify themselves and get in touch, would reveal the horrific reality that, deep down, no matter how much he didn’t want to believe it, he knew. The names of the four men remain on the long list of missing persons, as they have not yet been located.

The story of the four missing persons from Lapithos was among those highlighted by Mr. Christou at the event “NEW FINDINGS AND TESTIMONIES REGARDING CYPRUS’S MISSING PERSONS,” held at the initiative of MEP Mr. Costas Mavrides last June at the European Parliament in Brussels.

In his remarks during the event, Mr. Christou, and referring to his research, he emphasized the sacred duty of respect that a person owes to the dead, regardless of their background or the god in whom they believe. Drawing on Homer’s masterpiece, the *Iliad*, the historian, like Priam himself, appealed to Turkey and to anyone who knows anything about the fate of the missing, urging them to speak up now so that the families left behind may finally receive an answer.

In Brussels, Mr. Mavrides, with a clear and forceful statement, framed the issue of Cyprus’s missing persons in its true context: “… as a non-negotiable humanitarian right to the truth for every European citizen. Time is running out, as witnesses and relatives are, unfortunately, passing away without ever receiving an answer. All Cypriots have the right to know the fate of their relatives—and I repeat, all Cypriots. If we are allowed access to all these documents, we hope that many of the missing persons can be found or that we can learn of their fate.”

It is worth noting that during the event in Brussels, following the opening remarks by the Cypriot Member of the European Parliament, the European Parliament’s Permanent Rapporteur on the issue of missing persons, French MEP François-Xavier Bellamy. In a powerful and moving speech, Mr. Bellamy sent a clear message to Turkey and the European Union that the issue of missing persons is not a Cypriot issue, but a European one, and that it should be the primary focus for all European institutions in any potential discussion with Turkey on any other issue.

Those Left Behind

Mr. Evripides Onoufrios Christofis, originally from Kalo Chorio, Lefka, was 17 years old when his older brother Stelios disappeared after the occupation of Lapithos. He recognized him when investigator Odysseas Christou posted his photo. In fact, the resemblance between them was so striking that Mr. Evripidis’s son, who was the first to see the post, thought it was his father.

Speaking to Alpha News.Live, Mr. Onoufriou said that their only wish now is for him to be found, so they can finally get an answer while they are still alive. To put an end to the family’s nightmare and anguish.

Ms. Meropi Pettemeridou from Xyliatos never knew her father. She was an infant when he went missing during the invasion.

When she saw his photo in Mr. Christos’s post, she called him. Her first words were: “Where is my dad?”

Speaking to AlphaNews.Live, Ms. Pettemeridou appealed to anyone with information to come forward. All we want, she said, is to find out where our missing loved ones are.

“My sister was seven years old in 1974 and recognized him immediately; she was deeply shocked. Now we demand that Turkey tell us the truth—where all of our missing persons are,” he said.

Source of historical documentation: Odysseas Christou

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