Court rejects bail appeal for father of children who died in Xylofagou

On October 12, 2026, the senior judge of the Sovereign Base Areas rejected an appeal for bail filed by a 30-year-old Bulgarian man. The man is currently in custody following the deaths of his two sons, aged 8 and 10, who were found dead from asphyxiation in a parked car in Xylofagou on June 28, 2026. The defendant faces two counts of causing death by a rash, reckless, or negligent act.

The defense, represented by lawyer Christos Th. Theodoulou, stated that the court’s decision was not based on the client’s behavior, as he has no prior criminal record and cooperated with authorities. Instead, the court cited a legislative gap regarding the execution of arrest warrants between the Sovereign Base Areas and the Republic of Cyprus. The defense noted that while the Bases have mechanisms to return individuals to the Republic, the Republic of Cyprus lacks reciprocal legislation for the Bases. Consequently, the legal team is considering potential litigation against the Republic of Cyprus.

The defendant will remain in detention until his trial, which is scheduled to take place on November 30, 2026.