41-year-old man sentenced to two and a half years for property exploitation in occupied Cyprus

On June 12, 2026, the Nicosia Permanent Assize Court sentenced a 41-year-old Ukrainian national, Denys Pohodin, to two and a half years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to 18 counts of fraudulent real estate transactions involving properties belonging to Greek Cypriots. Between 2022 and March 20, 2025, Pohodin advertised and promoted residential properties located in the occupied villages of Agios Sergios, Gastria, Trikomo, and Akanthou in the Famagusta district, as well as Kalograia and Agios Amvrosios in the Kyrenia district. These areas are not under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus. The investigation revealed that the defendant, a Limassol resident with a residence permit valid until September 1, 2026, promoted these properties via social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. He was found to have knowingly marketed these properties without the consent of the original Greek Cypriot owners. The legal proceedings concluded following his admission of guilt regarding the illegal exploitation of displaced persons' land.