Appeals court upholds detention of Ewa Izabela Kuenzel in Cyprus

The Cyprus Court of Appeal has unanimously rejected an appeal filed by German national Ewa Izabela Kuenzel, who sought the termination of her detention and release on bail. The court’s decision, issued on September 4, 2026, confirmed that there was no violation of the defendant's human rights and that her continued custody remains legally justified pending the conclusion of her criminal trial.

Kuenzel faces 46 serious charges before the Nicosia Criminal Court, including fraudulent property transactions, illegal possession and use of real estate without owner consent, and money laundering. The accusations involve the construction of housing complexes in the occupied village of Agios Amvrosios in the Kyrenia district between 2023 and 2024. The trial proceedings against the defendant have been ongoing since they officially commenced on March 3, 2025.

This legal action follows broader efforts by judicial authorities to address property disputes in the northern territories of Cyprus. The court concluded that the initial criminal court decision regarding her detention was sound and that no grounds existed for replacing her custody with alternative measures. She will remain in detention as the criminal proceedings continue.