Germany to return 60 ancient artifacts to Cyprus

Sixty Cypriot antiquities, looted after the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974, will be returned to Cyprus. This became possible after the signing of an agreement between the authorities of Cyprus and Germany.

As reported by Cyprus Mail, the agreement on historical repatriation was signed in Munich the day before. The treaty marks the final chapter of the Aydin Dikmen case, related to the smuggling of antiquities, and opens the way for the return to the island of 24 church relics, 36 antique items, and other antiquities. It is expected that all of these will return to Cyprus after June 20.

Aydin Dikmen, a Turkish smuggler and art dealer, was arrested in 1998 for attempting to sell Eastern Orthodox art taken from Cyprus during the 1974 invasion.

The authorities of Cyprus consider him involved in the export of over 50 Greek Orthodox, Maronite, and Armenian Christian monuments, as well as antiquities from archaeological sites and private collections.

Among the items confiscated during the operation in March 1997 were 318 relics of Cypriot origin, including 6th-century mosaics, frescoes from the 8th to 15th centuries, icons, doors, manuscripts, and various prehistoric artifacts.

The legal battle began in 2004 and concluded in 2010 with a decision by the Munich District Court. Subsequent appeals to the Appeals Court led to the partial repatriation of 173 relics in July 2013 and another 85 in August 2015.