AHI Calls on Secretary Rubio to Condemn Unlawful Arrests in Occupied Cyprus

WASHINGTON, D.C.:-. – The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) has submitted a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging immediate U.S. engagement in response to the unlawful detention of five Greek Cypriot citizens by Turkish forces in the illegally occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

In the letter, AHI President Nick Larigakis condemned the politically motivated arrests and charged that the detentions, which were based on fabricated accusations of espionage, are a retaliatory measure by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. The individuals were visiting their former properties when they were arrested on July 19, 2025.

“We stress three critical points on this matter,” Larigakis said. “First, the Republic of Cyprus enforces the law, both its own as an EU country and within the international legal framework, against those who knowingly violate international law by trafficking in stolen property from the occupied north. Second, Türkiye equating the lawful prosecutions of the Republic of Cyprus with its own politically motivated and unsubstantiated accusations is a gross distortion of justice. Third, the internationally unrecognized ‘court’ conducting proceedings lacks legitimacy and due process. Such allegations are baseless and clearly an attempt to disrupt current attempts for lawful reunification

The letter calls on the U.S. Department of State to condemn the detentions, reaffirm the lack of authority of the illegitimate court of the occupying forces, and uphold America’s commitment to international law, human rights, and a just and peaceful resolution to the Cyprus issue.

“The United States has a vested interest in safeguarding stability in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Larigakis added. “That begins with standing up for democratic values and the rule of law.”