Alpha News

Mayor of Lefkara Warns of Taking Matters into His Own Hands Regarding Turkish Cypriot Properties

Published January 20, 2026, 16:30

The Mayor of Lefkara, Sofoklis Sofokleous, warned that he will be forced to take the law into his own hands if a solution is not found for the issue of Turkish Cypriot properties in the area. During his appearance before the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees, he denounced cases of illegal possession and transactions surrounding these properties, calling for immediate state intervention to protect and utilize them. The Mayor stated that there are 105 Turkish Cypriot properties in Lefkara that have been abandoned since 1963, many of which are listed buildings and are at risk of collapse. Criticizing the lack of action from the authorities, he warned that he would take self-help measures, such as opening abandoned houses to house people in need. Elena Karekla, representative of the Turkish Cypriot Property Custodian, stated that procedures for resolving the issue have begun, with the planned publication of available properties in April. However, the Mayor of Lefkara insisted on the need for immediate and effective action from the state.