**Court Rejects Release Request of German Real Estate Agent**
The Court of Appeal in Cyprus has unanimously denied a request for release from detention by Ewa Izabela Kuenzel, a German national accused of usurping Greek-Cypriot property in the occupied northern region of Cyprus. The decision, made public on Monday, stems from a previous ruling by the Nicosia District Court, which had also rejected Kuenzel's appeal for conditional release while awaiting the outcome of her criminal proceedings.
Kuenzel faces a total of 46 charges, which include fraudulent transactions involving real estate belonging to others, illegal possession and use of property without the owners' consent, and money laundering. The properties in question are located in the Ayios Ambrosios area of Kyrenia. Her legal troubles began following her arrest at Larnaca Airport in July 2024, where she reportedly admitted during a conversation with Elam MEP Geadis Geadi to selling Greek-Cypriot-owned property in the north.
The hearings for her case commenced in March 2025, and since then, the court has consistently denied her requests for bail. Kuenzel's legal team argued that her continued detention was unjustified, highlighting her clean criminal record as a basis for their appeal. They proposed terms for her conditional release, which included a cash guarantee of €300,000, a requirement to stay at a designated hotel in Nicosia, and regular reporting to the police.
However, the Court of Appeal ruled against her appeal, stating that the reasons provided by Kuenzel did not constitute a violation of her rights nor did they warrant a change in her detention status. The court emphasized that the complexity of the case, the volume of evidence, and the need for testimony from multiple witnesses, including those from abroad, justified the length of her detention.
In its decision, the court noted that the addition of witness material and the nature of the charges against Kuenzel were significant factors in determining the duration of her custody. The court also addressed claims made by the defense regarding the length of her detention, stating that it was premature to predict any potential sentence at this stage of the proceedings.
Ultimately, the Court of Appeal found that Kuenzel had not sufficiently demonstrated that her human rights had been infringed upon during her time in custody. As a result, the court dismissed her appeal, upholding the initial ruling from the Nicosia District Court.
The case has garnered attention due to its implications for property rights and legal proceedings in the context of the ongoing division of Cyprus. The situation remains under close scrutiny as the legal process continues, with further hearings expected in the coming months.