Wanted murder suspect Alexei Sokpa arrested in northern Cyprus

Alexei Sokpa, a 43-year-old Russian national wanted by Interpol for the January 2024 murder of Vangelis Zabounis in Athens, was arrested on August 24, 2026, in Agios Amvrosios, Kyrenia. Local authorities in the occupied territory confirmed he was taken into custody for illegal entry into a military zone and for remaining in the region illegally for 389 days since July 31, 2025. During court proceedings, Sokpa admitted to repeatedly crossing between the occupied areas and the Republic of Cyprus through unauthorized paths near the illegal Tymvou airport.

Following his detention, the so-called court in the north extended his custody for another six days to allow police to gather further evidence and examine potential links to other crimes. Meanwhile, the Republic of Cyprus and Greece are coordinating efforts to secure his transfer. Cooperation is being channeled through the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Crime, with former police chief Kypros Michaelides serving as a key liaison. The objective is to utilize informal United Nations-backed channels to facilitate his handover to the Republic of Cyprus, from where he would be subsequently extradited to Greece.