French court approves extradition of Lithuanian national to Cyprus

On 1 July 2026, the Court of Appeal in Aix-en-Provence approved the extradition of a Lithuanian national to Cyprus. The suspect was arrested in France on 16 May 2026 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Cypriot authorities regarding the alleged usurpation of Greek Cypriot property in the occupied areas. The legal teams from the Republic of Cyprus argued their case based on the interpretation of Protocol No. 10 of the Act of Accession to the European Union. This ruling represents a shift in the court's position, as it previously rejected a similar warrant in December 2025 involving an Iranian national accused of similar offenses. The French court concluded that the lack of effective government control in the occupied areas does not preclude the application of the European legal framework or the execution of an arrest warrant. Cypriot legal services described this as a significant legal development achieved through inter-agency cooperation. The decision confirms that international legal standards remain applicable to property-related investigations in the territory.