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AKEL Criticizes President for Ayaz's Release, Calls Extradition a 'Stain' on Cyprus

Published February 16, 2026, 17:15
AKEL Criticizes President for Ayaz's Release, Calls Extradition a 'Stain' on Cyprus

AKEL spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas strongly criticized President Christodoulides' signing of Kenan Ayaz's release, emphasizing that his government is responsible for the initial decision to extradite him to Germany to be tried as a terrorist. Koukoumas labeled the extradition a 'stain' on Cyprus, given that Ayaz was a recognized political refugee and was never accused of violent acts. He expressed satisfaction with Ayaz's release, a victory for the solidarity movement, and congratulated all those who contributed to this effort, particularly the Kurdish community in Cyprus. The release, he noted, came five months late after Ayaz's return to Cyprus, highlighting pressure from Turkey and Germany for his extradition. Koukoumas emphasized that Ayaz's extradition was the result of a demand from Turkish President Erdogan, implemented through Berlin and Nicosia. He reiterated AKEL's unwavering solidarity with the Kurdish movement and its struggle for dignity and democratic freedoms. In a separate statement, the former leader of the Greens, who supported Ayaz, expressed disappointment over the delay in his release and stressed that it happened only because the government lacked the courage to defend its sovereign rights against the demands of Turkey and Germany. Overall, AKEL's criticism focuses on the government's political decision to extradite Ayaz, considering it detrimental to Cyprus's image and contrary to the concept of political asylum.