Supreme Court upholds 1974 land expropriation ruling

On July 23, 2026, the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus issued a unanimous decision rejecting an appeal regarding the long-standing expropriation of a property in the village of Aglantzia. The legal challenge, initiated in 2017 by the former owner, sought the revocation of an expropriation process that began with a notice on May 10, 1974, and a formal decree on February 14, 1975.

The original expropriation involved eight plots of land intended for the construction of a major arterial road connecting the Athalassa and Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation area to the Kaimakli-Pallouriotissa industrial zone in Nicosia. The claimant argued that the state failed to utilize the property within the timeframes mandated by the Constitution and relevant legislation, requesting the return of the land. The court ultimately ruled in favor of the Republic of Cyprus, represented by the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Interior, and the Director of the Department of Town Planning and Housing.

The ruling confirms the legal validity of the state's claim over the land despite the significant passage of time since the 1974 events and the fact that the project remained largely undeveloped throughout these decades. The decision solidifies the state's position, effectively ending the challenge regarding the property's status.