Two Hungarian Women Sentenced to Prison for Promoting Greek Cypriot Property in Northern Cyprus

On Friday, the Nicosia Criminal Court sentenced two Hungarian nationals to prison for their involvement in promoting and marketing Greek Cypriot-owned property in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The first defendant was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, while the second received a 15-month sentence.

The trial, which began in December 2024, faced multiple delays before the final ruling was delivered on May 9. According to court documents, the case involved land and property originally owned by Greek Cypriots prior to 1974. Both women had previously pleaded guilty to some of the charges against them.

The first defendant, a retired cosmetologist, admitted guilt in 21 out of 63 charges. The second, a professional hairdresser, pleaded guilty to six counts. The prosecution dropped the remaining charges. This case marks the first time individuals have pleaded guilty in legal proceedings related to the marketing of Greek Cypriot-owned properties in Northern Cyprus.

The women were found to have promoted residential developments in the Kyrenia (Girne) area through their personal Facebook pages.

In recent years, the Republic of Cyprus has stepped up efforts to arrest individuals—both foreign property owners and real estate agents—connected to property sales in the northern part of the island. Authorities in the TRNC have condemned these arrests, raising the issue with UN officials on several occasions. TRNC President Ersin Tatar has described such detentions as “unacceptable.”