Newsroom
After nearly a decade in the courts, the Paphos District Court has thrown out a lawsuit filed against the Paphos Municipality by a former tenant of a Turkish Cypriot-owned property. The plaintiff was demanding over €45,000 in compensation, claiming damages due to the start of major renovation works at the historic “Ibrahim’s Khan” (Xani tou Ibrahim) complex in the town's traditional center.
The lawsuit, filed nine years ago, challenged the municipality's handling of the €2.8 million redevelopment project, which saw the rundown complex transformed into a vibrant cultural and commercial hub by 2019.
The court ruled that the former tenant’s claims were baseless and ordered him to pay the municipality’s legal fees.
In its May 30 ruling, the court found that the municipality and its mayor acted lawfully throughout the process. It specifically noted that the mayor had no involvement in reclaiming the property or removing the tenant's belongings — actions that were handled by the Interior Ministry in its role as Custodian of Turkish Cypriot Properties.
The court ruled that the former tenant’s claims were baseless and ordered him to pay the municipality’s legal fees. It also clarified that the mayor’s presence on-site during the works was out of interest in the renovation and did not amount to interference.
Paphos Municipality was represented in court by the legal firm of Marilena Patsalidou.
The ruling is being seen as a vindication of the mayor, who faced criticism at the time over his role in the high-profile project, which has since become a popular local attraction.
