14 Turkish Cypriots from mixed marriages have been granted citizenship of the Republic of Cyprus

The Migration Department of the Republic of Cyprus has granted citizenship to 14 Turkish Cypriots from mixed marriages, where one parent is Turkish and the other is Turkish Cypriot. This decision has been welcomed by the non-governmental organization "Movement for the Solution of Mixed Marriage Problems," which advocates for citizenship rights.

"We believe that this step is an important one. The issue of mixed marriages, which was not raised two years ago, now occupies an important place both in Cyprus and on the international agenda," activists said.

Recall that a month ago, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, announced 14 measures to bring the two communities closer. Among other things, it is envisaged to expand measures allowing Turkish Cypriots from mixed marriages to obtain Cypriot citizenship.

According to the new rules, regardless of the profession conditions, if a Cypriot parent and a resident parent met and married abroad, and then settled in the north of the island, applications for citizenship for children from this mixed marriage will be considered and approved.

According to the publication Politis, in accordance with the new criteria, citizenship has already been granted to 14 people.

It should be noted that under the law of the Republic of Cyprus, any child of at least one Cypriot parent is entitled to Cypriot citizenship. However, the previous provision, later added to the law, gave the cabinet of ministers the freedom to act in cases where one of the parents arrived on the island from ports and airports in the northern part of Cyprus or the place of residence of any of the parents is in the north.

As a result, about 10,000 children of Turkish Cypriots have been left without the right to become citizens of Cyprus and the EU.