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The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ordered Turkey to pay €18,000 in damages and legal fees to Cypriot company K.V. Mediterranean Tours Ltd. over delays in handling a property claim in the fenced-off area of Famagusta.
The ruling, issued Tuesday, found that Turkey violated the company’s right to peaceful enjoyment of its property under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The company, which owns a building complex inside the sealed-off city, had applied to the so-called Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in the north in 2010 but received no resolution. It then filed the case with the ECtHR in 2017.
The court criticized the IPC and authorities in the Turkish-occupied north for dragging out the process and failing to act with due diligence. It awarded €7,000 in non-material damages and €11,000 in legal costs to the company and gave Turkey three months to pay.
While the court held back on deciding any larger financial compensation for now, it warned that effective remedies must be created to handle such claims swiftly in the future. It noted that the IPC remains a recognized legal avenue that must be exhausted before approaching the ECtHR.
The court also addressed concerns over the involvement of the EVKAF religious foundation, often cited by Turkish Cypriot authorities in property disputes. It ruled that EVKAF’s role did not compromise the fairness of the proceedings and that K.V. Mediterranean Tours had the opportunity to challenge its claims.
Two judges dissented, arguing that the violation was procedural, due to the long delays, and did not justify a final judgment while the case remains pending in the north’s mechanisms.
In response, Turkish Cypriot politician Kudret Ozersay said the decision confirms the IPC is still seen as a valid legal body by the ECtHR but warned that Turkey’s conviction over the delay is a serious warning. He called on institutions in the north to act urgently to speed up future cases.
