The court released on bail the Turkish-Cypriot lawyer Akan Kursat

Turkish-Cypriot lawyer Akan Kursat, who was brought to Southern Cyprus from Italy yesterday evening, was released on bail by the court today until a new hearing.

According to Greek media reports, after arriving on the island, the lawyer extradited from Italy was arrested by the Cypriot authorities based on a national arrest warrant. Today he appeared before the Nicosia District Court, which decided to release him on bail of €10,000 in cash and €65,000 in bank guarantee from two separate Greek banks.

It is reported that during the trial, Akan Kursat denied the 20 charges brought against him. Hearings on his case will begin on February 29 at 10:30 a.m. During the trial, the defendant lawyer will visit the police station on the first and third Monday of each month from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., starting from February 19.

Recall, Akan Kyurshat was arrested in Italy in January 2024. Since 2007, he has been subject to an arrest warrant. The authorities of the Greek-Cypriot administration accuse the lawyer of "usurping Greek-Cypriot property in Northern Cyprus" - selling the property of Greek-Cypriots in the north.

According to Greek media reports, the following charges were brought against him: "conspiracy to commit a serious crime", "unlawful possession and use of land registered to another person", "providing security for goods through false representations", and "money laundering from illegal activities".

After his arrest, the lawyer objected to Cyprus' extradition request, claiming that he fears for his life in the country's prisons, as a Turkish-Cypriot prisoner was killed there in 2022.

According to Turkish media reports, on February 2, the lawyer changed his position and announced through his lawyers that he agreed to extradition to Southern Cyprus.

This is the first case where a Cypriot-Turk, holding Cypriot citizenship, will stand trial for the exploitation of Cypriot-Greek property in the north of the country.