The leaders of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus in the House of Representatives sent a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to pressure for the release of five Greek-Cypriots still held in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.
Representatives Gus Bilirakis, Nicole Malliotakis, Dina Titus, and Chris Pappas highlighted politically motivated arrests that threaten the bi-communal and bi-zonal comprehensive settlement the State Department is seeking to achieve for the reunification of the island of Cyprus.
The five elderly Greek-Cypriots were arrested in the Turkish-occupied town of Trikomo in northern Cyprus on July 19, on charges of espionage, according to Turkish Cypriot media.
According to Greek state broadcaster ERT, the Greek-Cypriots were allegedly collecting information on construction sites located on what Turkish Cypriot authorities claim are “Turkish-owned properties.”
The area is known for illegal developments on Greek-Cypriot land.
