Greek Cypriot, Andreas Soudjis, was released on Friday by the Turkish Cypriot puppet regime after being detained in the occupied areas of Cyprus for more than five weeks and was going to Limassol to meet with his daughters who said he missed more than anything else.
He told CNA that that his detention was illegal and the sentence imposed on him by a so called “military court” for five photographs taken from restricted areas excessive, adding that those were taken from the area of Varosha but where just showing buildings and sceneries, such as a church and friend’s house.
Soudjis was released from the “central prison” in Turkish occupied Nicosia this morning. From there he went accompanied by relatives and friends to the “police station” to take his car and passed to the government-controlled areas via Vrysoulles.
The so called “police” still have his mobile phone, which he will take back on Saturday or Sunday through his Turkish Cypriot lawyer. The wireless apparatus for the use of which he was charged has been confiscated.
Soudjis thanked everyone for their support, especially his brother Savvas and his Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot friends who stood by him and were present at the “court” to empower him. Moreover, he thanked his Turkish Cypriot lawyer, Oncel Polili, his fellow-villagers from Lysi and the Cyprus government for their support and help.
He said that he was not distressed, while asked why he believes he was arrested he said that “for some reason they wanted to punish me.” Moreover, he said that he gave answers to all the questions he had been asked during his detention.
Soudjis said that he was now prohibited from visiting the Turkish occupied areas, but he will make an appeal against this decision.
An illegal breakaway state declared independence unilaterally, on November 15, 1983, in the areas under Turkish occupation, an action condemned by the UN Security Council and the international community as legally null and void.
The illegal declaration followed the division of the island after the Turkish military invaded Cyprus in 1974, occupying one third of its territory ever since.