British couple ordered to demolish their illegally built villa in occupied part of Cyprus

Reuters reports that a British couple faces having to demolish their holiday villa in the Turkish controlled part of Cyprus after a court rule in the United Kingdom.

The ruling can affect many other foreign holiday home owners who may have been investing in illegally obtained land without their knowledge.

David and Linda Orams spent their life’s savings to buy a villa in 2002. The purchased land was owned by a Greek Cypriot who became a refugee in 1974, after the invasion of the Turkish forces.

The original owner Meletios Apostolides took action against the couple in a Cypriot court. The Nicosia District Court ordered the demolition of the villa with the pool and other parts.

Then Apostolides sought enforcement of the ruling abroad. The European Court ruled in favour of him.

The UK Court of Appeal rejected arguments by the couple that the European Court judge has close relationship with Cyprus leadership, something they claimed had influenced his decision.

This is an important decision that could affect thousands of other holiday home owners, who purchased land in the occupied territories belonging originally to Greek Cypriots.

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