Turkish journalist confirms authenticity of 1974 prisoner of war photograph

A photograph depicting a blindfolded man, believed to be a Greek Cypriot prisoner of war from 1974, has been authenticated by Selim Esen, a former correspondent for the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT). The image was initially shared on May 4 by researcher Odysseas Christou via the Facebook group '1974 Eyewitness Accounts and Evidence'. Esen, now 83, confirmed to the Cyprus Investigative Reporting Network (CIReN) that he appears in the photo as the civilian on the right. He identified the location as Mia Milia and the date as August 14, 1974, the start of the second phase of the military operation. Esen stated the photograph was taken by his colleagues, Vedat Gurez or Sonat Konor, and that the individual standing on the left of the blindfolded prisoner was likely a member of the TMT. Although initial AI detection tools provided inconclusive results regarding the image's authenticity, Esen claims to hold the original version in his personal archive. The image has sparked renewed public debate regarding the fate of thousands of missing persons from the conflict. Some versions circulating on social media have been enhanced or colourised, leading to initial skepticism.