PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 18360/91) 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, Mrs Sophia Andreou (“the applicant”), on 7 June 1991.

The applicant was represented by Mr K. Chrysostomides, 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 deprived her of her home and properties.

The applicant died on 15 December 1993. Her heirs are her husband, Mr Andreas Michael Ioannou, her son, Mr Michael Michael, and her daughter, Mrs Christina Michael. On 3 August 1993 the applicant’s heirs informed the Court that they wished to pursue the application on behalf of the deceased.

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).

On 11 May 1999, the applicant’s heirs were granted legal aid.

By a decision of 15 June 1999 the Court declared the application partly 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 1930.

The applicant claimed that she was the owner of a house with a yard, as well as a garden and four plots of land with trees in the village of Ayios Amvrosios in northern Cyprus. She allegedly also owned half of a plot of land with trees and one sixth of another plot with trees and an olive grove in the same area. The applicant grew up and lived in Ayios Amvosios until 1973, when she claimed to have moved to Kyrenia. She lived there with her family, allegedly in a house owned by her husband. In July 1974, as the Turkish troops were advancing, the applicant and her family had to flee to the area still controlled by the Cypriot Government.

Before the Court, the applicant produced a certificate confirming ownership issued by the Department of Lands and Surveys of the Republic of Cyprus, a certificate for the same purpose signed by the chairman of the local committee of Ayios Amvrosios and a certificate signed by the rural guard of Ayios Amvrosios. It transpires from these documents that the applicant’s properties could be described as follows: (a) Kyrenia, Ayios Amvrosios, within the village, house with yard (ground level), sheet/plan 13/14X, plot nos. 189/1/2/1, 189/3, area: 350 sq. m, share: whole; (b) Kyrenia, Ayios Amvrosios, Tzieheneu Teresi, field with trees, sheet/plan 13/14, plot nos. 189/1/2/1, 189/3, area: 350 sq. m, share: whole; (c) Kyrenia, Ayios Amvrosios, Ayios Demetrianos, field with trees, sheet/plan 13/13, plot no. 193, area: 3.54 decares, share: whole; (d) Kyrenia, Ayios Amvrosios, Moussas, field with trees, sheet/plan 13/21, plot no. 207, area: 1.229 decares, share: whole; (e) Kyrenia, Ayios Amvrosios, Tsioppi, garden/cultivated field, sheet/plan 13/23, plot no. 115, area: 335 sq. m, share: whole; (f) Kyrenia, Ayios Amvrosios, Bambatzera, field with trees, sheet/plan 13/27, plot no. 226, area: 1 hectare, 1.851 decares, share: whole; (g) Kyrenia, Ayios Amvrosios, Vouno tis Mangous, field with trees, sheet/plan 13/31, plot no. 32/1, area: 1 hectare, 9.449 decares, share: whole; (h) Kyrenia, Ayios Amvrosios, Vouno tis Mangous, field with trees, sheet/plan 13/31, plot no. 32/3, area: 1 hectare, 3.186 decares, share: ½; (i) Kyrenia, Ayios Amvrosios, Tzieheneu Teresi, field with olive trees, sheet/plan 13/19, plot no. 171, share: 1/6.

Between 1974 and her death the applicant was unable to return to her home and property in the northern part of Cyprus. She was also unable to make use of her property there in any other manner.

After 1974 the applicant took part in a number of peaceful demonstrations and marches towards Ayios Amvrosios. She claimed that on all occasions she was prevented from “walking home” by Turkish troops. On 9 December 1990 the applicant took part once again in a car convoy organised by persons from Kyrenia wishing to return to their homes in the north peacefully. The participants in the convoy had informed the Prime Minister of Turkey, the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) in Cyprus and the commander of the UN forces on the island of their intention to return home. They drove to the Mia Milia buffer‑zone checkpoint on the main road linking Nicosia and Kyrenia. There they stopped and asked the UN forces officer on duty to be allowed to return to their homes, property and villages. They requested him to transmit their demand to the Turkish military authorities. Four hours later, the UN officer announced to the applicant and the other participants in the convoy that their request to drive through the checkpoint and enter the northern part of Cyprus had been refused. The applicant claimed that they had been told that their request had been refused by the Turkish military authorities. The respondent Government contended that the UN officer had consulted the Turkish-Cypriot authorities.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e1
001-90979_a10_em1
CODE
DIRECT
18360/91
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e2
001-90979_a10_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Turkey
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e3
001-90979_a10_em3
DEM
QUASI
Cypriot
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e4
001-90979_a10_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mrs Sophia Andreou
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e5
001-90979_a10_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
7 June 1991
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e6
001-90979_a10_em6
PERSON
QUASI
Mr K. Chrysostomides
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e7
001-90979_a10_em7
LOC
QUASI
Nicosia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e2
001-90979_a10_em8
ORG
NO_MASK
001-90979_a10_em2
Turkish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e8
001-90979_a10_em9
PERSON
QUASI
Mr Z.M. Necatigil
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e9
001-90979_a10_em10
LOC
NO_MASK
northern part of Cyprus
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e10
001-90979_a10_em11
DATETIME
QUASI
15 December 1993
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e11
001-90979_a10_em12
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Andreas Michael Ioannou
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e12
001-90979_a10_em13
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Michael Michael
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e13
001-90979_a10_em14
PERSON
DIRECT
Mrs Christina Michael
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e14
001-90979_a10_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
3 August 1993
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e15
001-90979_a10_em16
DATETIME
NO_MASK
1 November 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e16
001-90979_a10_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
11 May 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e17
001-90979_a10_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
15 June 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e18
001-90979_a10_em19
ORG
NO_MASK
Government of Cyprus
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e19
001-90979_a10_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
1930
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e20
001-90979_a10_em21
QUANTITY
NO_MASK
four plots
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em22
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e22
001-90979_a10_em23
LOC
QUASI
northern Cyprus
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e23
001-90979_a10_em24
QUANTITY
QUASI
half of a plot
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e24
001-90979_a10_em25
QUANTITY
QUASI
one sixth
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90979_a10_e25
001-90979_a10_em26
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e26
001-90979_a10_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
1973
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em28
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e28
001-90979_a10_em29
DATETIME
NO_MASK
July 1974
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e29
001-90979_a10_em30
ORG
NO_MASK
Turkish troops
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e30
001-90979_a10_em31
ORG
NO_MASK
Cypriot Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e31
001-90979_a10_em32
ORG
NO_MASK
Department of Lands and Surveys
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e32
001-90979_a10_em33
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Cyprus
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em34
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em35
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em36
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em37
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e33
001-90979_a10_em38
CODE
QUASI
13/14X
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e34
001-90979_a10_em39
CODE
QUASI
189/1/2/1
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e35
001-90979_a10_em40
CODE
QUASI
189/3
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e36
001-90979_a10_em41
QUANTITY
QUASI
350 sq
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em42
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em43
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90979_a10_e37
001-90979_a10_em44
LOC
QUASI
Tzieheneu Teresi
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e38
001-90979_a10_em45
CODE
QUASI
13/14
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e34
001-90979_a10_em46
CODE
QUASI
189/1/2/1
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e35
001-90979_a10_em47
CODE
QUASI
189/3
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e36
001-90979_a10_em48
QUANTITY
QUASI
350 sq
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em49
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em50
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90979_a10_e39
001-90979_a10_em51
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Demetrianos
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e40
001-90979_a10_em52
CODE
QUASI
13/13
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e41
001-90979_a10_em53
CODE
QUASI
193
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e42
001-90979_a10_em54
QUANTITY
QUASI
3.54 decares
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em55
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em56
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90979_a10_e43
001-90979_a10_em57
LOC
QUASI
Moussas
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e44
001-90979_a10_em58
CODE
QUASI
13/21
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e45
001-90979_a10_em59
CODE
QUASI
207
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e46
001-90979_a10_em60
QUANTITY
QUASI
1.229 decares
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em61
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em62
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e47
001-90979_a10_em63
LOC
QUASI
Tsioppi
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e48
001-90979_a10_em64
CODE
QUASI
13/23
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e49
001-90979_a10_em65
CODE
QUASI
115
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e50
001-90979_a10_em66
QUANTITY
QUASI
335 sq. m
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em67
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em68
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90979_a10_e51
001-90979_a10_em69
LOC
QUASI
Bambatzera
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e52
001-90979_a10_em70
CODE
QUASI
13/27
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e53
001-90979_a10_em71
CODE
QUASI
226
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e54
001-90979_a10_em72
QUANTITY
QUASI
1 hectare
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e55
001-90979_a10_em73
QUANTITY
QUASI
1.851 decares
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em74
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em75
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e56
001-90979_a10_em76
LOC
QUASI
Vouno tis Mangous
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e57
001-90979_a10_em77
CODE
QUASI
13/31
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e58
001-90979_a10_em78
CODE
QUASI
32/1
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e54
001-90979_a10_em79
QUANTITY
QUASI
1 hectare
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e59
001-90979_a10_em80
QUANTITY
QUASI
9.449 decares
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em81
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em82
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e56
001-90979_a10_em83
LOC
QUASI
Vouno tis Mangous
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90979_a10_e57
001-90979_a10_em84
CODE
QUASI
13/31
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e60
001-90979_a10_em85
CODE
QUASI
32/3
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90979_a10_e54
001-90979_a10_em86
QUANTITY
QUASI
1 hectare
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e61
001-90979_a10_em87
QUANTITY
QUASI
3.186 decares
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e62
001-90979_a10_em88
QUANTITY
QUASI
½
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em89
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em90
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e37
001-90979_a10_em91
LOC
QUASI
Tzieheneu Teresi
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e63
001-90979_a10_em92
CODE
QUASI
13/19
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e64
001-90979_a10_em93
CODE
QUASI
171
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e65
001-90979_a10_em94
QUANTITY
QUASI
1/6
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e66
001-90979_a10_em95
DATETIME
NO_MASK
1974
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90979_a10_e9
001-90979_a10_em96
LOC
NO_MASK
northern part of Cyprus
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e66
001-90979_a10_em97
DATETIME
NO_MASK
1974
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e21
001-90979_a10_em98
LOC
QUASI
Ayios Amvrosios
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e29
001-90979_a10_em99
ORG
NO_MASK
Turkish troops
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e67
001-90979_a10_em100
DATETIME
QUASI
9 December 1990
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em101
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e68
001-90979_a10_em102
ORG
NO_MASK
Prime Minister of Turkey
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e69
001-90979_a10_em103
ORG
QUASI
Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e70
001-90979_a10_em104
LOC
NO_MASK
Cyprus
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e71
001-90979_a10_em105
ORG
NO_MASK
UN forces
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e72
001-90979_a10_em106
LOC
QUASI
Mia Milia buffer‑zone checkpoint
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e7
001-90979_a10_em107
LOC
QUASI
Nicosia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e27
001-90979_a10_em108
LOC
QUASI
Kyrenia
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e71
001-90979_a10_em109
ORG
NO_MASK
UN forces
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e73
001-90979_a10_em110
ORG
NO_MASK
Turkish military authorities
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e74
001-90979_a10_em111
DATETIME
QUASI
Four hours
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e75
001-90979_a10_em112
ORG
NO_MASK
UN officer
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e9
001-90979_a10_em113
LOC
NO_MASK
northern part of Cyprus
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90979_a10_e73
001-90979_a10_em114
ORG
NO_MASK
Turkish military authorities
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90979_a10_e75
001-90979_a10_em115
ORG
NO_MASK
UN officer
Sophia Andreou
TUR
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Sophia Andreou