Yiannis Karousos urges government to grant charitable status to Autism Support Famagusta

On October 25, 2026, the President of the Famagusta District Self-Government Organization (EOA), Yiannis Karousos, criticized the Ministry of Finance for its refusal to recognize the Autism Support Famagusta association as a charitable entity. The association, which manages the 'Smile Project' for adults with autism, has been seeking this formal recognition for five years to allow donors to claim tax deductions on contributions.

The Ministry of Finance reportedly rejects the application on the grounds that the collection of nominal fees from families constitutes a commercial or for-profit activity. Karousos labeled this position contradictory, noting that while the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare demands financial sustainability from such centers, the Ministry of Finance effectively penalizes the organization for attempting to achieve that sustainability through small fees. Karousos has called on the state to take immediate initiative to resolve this bureaucratic hurdle.

This dispute highlights a broader conflict between institutional requirements for self-funding and the legal definitions of non-profit operations. The association continues to operate the Smile Project, which provides essential care for adults with autism in the Famagusta region, while awaiting a change in the state's classification policy.