Greek and Cypriot authorities seek to identify missing 1974 officer

Greek and Cypriot authorities are continuing their efforts to resolve the fate of missing persons from the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Fifty-two years after the conflict, a renewed attempt to identify infantry Colonel Konstantinos Kentras, who served in the Hellenic Force in Cyprus (ELDYK), has been launched. He remains one of 37 Greek nationals still officially listed as missing.

On Thursday, October 22, 2026, Greek Deputy Minister of National Defense Thanasis Davakis and the Presidential Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Marios Hartsiotis, visited the officer's family in Argos Orestiko. During this meeting, authorities provided updates on current initiatives to locate and identify victims of the invasion. With the family's consent, additional genetic samples were collected to facilitate further forensic investigation into the officer's status. The visit was also attended by the commander of the 9th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Stefanos Doxakis.

These initiatives are part of a broader, long-standing commitment by both governments to provide closure to the families of all missing individuals. The collection of DNA material is considered a critical step in the ongoing scientific process of identification, aimed at finally determining the fate of the remaining missing persons.