PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 41355/98) against the Republic of Turkey lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights (“the Commission”) under former Article 25 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by a Cypriot national, Mr Savvas Gavriel (“the applicant”), on 27 March 1998.

The applicant was represented by Mr C. Clerides, a lawyer practising in Nicosia. The Turkish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr Z.M. Necatigil.

The applicant alleged, in particular, that the Turkish occupation of the northern part of Cyprus had prevented him from having access to his home and properties.

The application was transmitted to the Court on 1 November 1998, when Protocol No. 11 to the Convention came into force (Article 5 § 2 of Protocol No. 11).

By a decision of 1 February 2000 the Court declared the application admissible.

The applicant and the Government each filed observations on the merits (Rule 59 § 1). In addition, third-party comments were received from the Government of Cyprus, which had exercised its right to intervene (Article 36 § 1 of the Convention and Rule 44 § 1 (b)).

THE FACTS

The applicant was born in 1942 and lives in the United Kingdom.

The applicant claimed that until 14 August 1974 he and his family used to live in Morphou (Cyprus) in a detached house with a yard (area: 229 sq. m). This property was registered in the name of the applicant’s wife under plot no. 315, sheet/plan 19/32.5.2. On 14 August 1974, as the Turkish forces were advancing, the applicant and his family fled their home leaving behind all its contents, including precious personal belongings.

The applicant also claimed that he was the owner of the following plots of land in northern Cyprus: (a) Nicosia/Kapouti, plot no. 576, sheet/plan 19/16, field, area: 5,017 sq. m; (b) Kyrenia/Livera, plot no. 39/1, sheet/plan 5/62W1, field, area: 112,149 sq. m; (c) Kyrenia/Livera, plot no. 14, sheet/plan 5/62W2, field, area: 171,549 sq. m; (d) Kyrenia/Livera, plot no. 34, sheet/plan 5/63W1, field, area: 22,074 sq. m; (e) Kyrenia/Livera, plot no. 45, sheet/plan 5/63W1, field, area: 11,582 sq. m.

In support of his claim of ownership the applicant produced the relevant certificates of registration and affirmations of ownership issued by the Republic of Cyprus.

The applicant alleged that from 14 August 1974 onwards he had not been able to return to his house and had been continuously prevented from exercising his property rights and enjoying his properties.
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001-90751_a10_e1
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CODE
DIRECT
41355/98
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001-90751_a10_e2
001-90751_a10_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Turkey
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001-90751_a10_e3
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DEM
QUASI
Cypriot
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001-90751_a10_e4
001-90751_a10_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Savvas Gavriel
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001-90751_a10_e5
001-90751_a10_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
27 March 1998
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001-90751_a10_e6
001-90751_a10_em6
PERSON
QUASI
Mr C. Clerides
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001-90751_a10_e7
001-90751_a10_em7
LOC
QUASI
Nicosia
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001-90751_a10_e2
001-90751_a10_em8
ORG
NO_MASK
001-90751_a10_em2
Turkish Government
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001-90751_a10_e8
001-90751_a10_em9
PERSON
QUASI
Mr Z.M. Necatigil
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001-90751_a10_e9
001-90751_a10_em10
LOC
NO_MASK
northern part of Cyprus
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001-90751_a10_e10
001-90751_a10_em11
DATETIME
NO_MASK
1 November 1998
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001-90751_a10_e11
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DATETIME
QUASI
1 February 2000
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001-90751_a10_e12
001-90751_a10_em13
ORG
NO_MASK
Government of Cyprus
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001-90751_a10_e13
001-90751_a10_em14
DATETIME
QUASI
1942
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001-90751_a10_e14
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LOC
QUASI
United Kingdom
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001-90751_a10_e15
001-90751_a10_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
14 August 1974
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001-90751_a10_e16
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LOC
QUASI
Morphou (Cyprus)
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001-90751_a10_e17
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QUANTITY
QUASI
229 sq. m
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001-90751_a10_e18
001-90751_a10_em19
CODE
QUASI
315
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001-90751_a10_e19
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CODE
QUASI
19/32.5.2
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001-90751_a10_e15
001-90751_a10_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
14 August 1974
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001-90751_a10_e20
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ORG
NO_MASK
Turkish forces
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001-90751_a10_e21
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LOC
NO_MASK
northern Cyprus
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001-90751_a10_e7
001-90751_a10_em24
LOC
QUASI
Nicosia
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001-90751_a10_e22
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LOC
QUASI
Kapouti
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001-90751_a10_e23
001-90751_a10_em26
CODE
QUASI
576
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001-90751_a10_e24
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CODE
QUASI
19/16
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001-90751_a10_e25
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QUANTITY
QUASI
5,017 sq. m
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001-90751_a10_e26
001-90751_a10_em29
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
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001-90751_a10_e27
001-90751_a10_em30
LOC
QUASI
Livera
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001-90751_a10_e28
001-90751_a10_em31
CODE
QUASI
39/1
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001-90751_a10_e29
001-90751_a10_em32
CODE
QUASI
5/62W1
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001-90751_a10_e30
001-90751_a10_em33
QUANTITY
QUASI
112,149 sq. m
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001-90751_a10_e26
001-90751_a10_em34
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
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001-90751_a10_e27
001-90751_a10_em35
LOC
QUASI
Livera
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001-90751_a10_e31
001-90751_a10_em36
CODE
QUASI
14
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001-90751_a10_e32
001-90751_a10_em37
CODE
QUASI
5/62W2
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001-90751_a10_e33
001-90751_a10_em38
QUANTITY
QUASI
171,549 sq. m
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001-90751_a10_e26
001-90751_a10_em39
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
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001-90751_a10_e27
001-90751_a10_em40
LOC
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Livera
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001-90751_a10_e34
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CODE
QUASI
34
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001-90751_a10_e35
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CODE
QUASI
5/63W1
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001-90751_a10_e36
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QUANTITY
QUASI
22,074 sq. m
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001-90751_a10_em44
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
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001-90751_a10_e27
001-90751_a10_em45
LOC
QUASI
Livera
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001-90751_a10_e37
001-90751_a10_em46
CODE
QUASI
45
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001-90751_a10_e35
001-90751_a10_em47
CODE
QUASI
5/63W1
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001-90751_a10_e38
001-90751_a10_em48
QUANTITY
QUASI
11,582 sq. m
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001-90751_a10_e39
001-90751_a10_em49
ORG
QUASI
Republic of Cyprus
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001-90751_a10_e15
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DATETIME
QUASI
14 August 1974
Savvas Gavriel
TUR
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Savvas Gavriel