Author
Main methods of arrival
A high percentage of asylum seekers enter Cyprus from the areas not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus (RoC), in the north of the island, and then cross the “green line”/no-man’s land/Buffer Zone, in an irregular manner to the areas under the control of the RoC. The “green line” is not considered a border and although there are authorised points of crossing, these are not considered official entry points into the RoC. Crossing of the “green line” is regulated under the “Green Line” Regulation,[1] and requires persons to have entered the RoC in a regular manner. In order to cross the “green line” through the points of crossing, a person needs a valid visa and will be checked by police acting in the north as well as by the RoC Police. As the vast majority of persons seeking asylum do not have such a visa, they cross the “green line” in an irregular manner, often with the help of smugglers. If a person is apprehended, having entered the areas in the north that are not under the effective control of the RoC without permission from the authorities acting in the north, they will most probably be arrested and returned to Türkiye and, from Türkiye, possibly to their country of origin. As the acquis is suspended in the areas in the north, there is no asylum system in force.[2]
Since 2016, there have also been a small number of boat arrivals either reaching the areas not under the control of the RoC in the north – with persons then passing into the areas under the effective control of the RoC – or arriving directly to the areas under the control of the RoC. The boats initially came mainly from Türkiye, with an increasing number from Lebanon or Syria. Initially persons arriving by boats were often relatives of persons already residing in Cyprus, including spouses and underage children of persons with subsidiary protection.[3] This is partly due to the fact that the vast majority of Syrians are granted subsidiary protection and this status, since 2014, does not give access to Family Reunification.
Boat arrivals have always constituted a small percentage of the total number of arrivals. However, in early 2024, for the first time, the arrivals by sea directly to the areas under the control of the RoC were significantly higher than arrivals crossing the green line, i.e., than from the areas not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.[4] From April 2024 onwards, following the measures taken to deter arrivals the number of boats fell significantly.[5]
Besides arrivals from the north, a very small number of asylum seekers enter the RoC through official points of entry (ports and airports) and then apply for asylum. In addition to recently arrived persons, there is always a number of persons already in the country who had entered and stayed under other statuses, including domestic workers, work permits, and students, and apply for asylum before or after their initial residence permit has expired.
In 2024, 3,234 persons arrived by land from the areas not under the control of the RoC and 2,868 arrived by sea directly to the areas under the control of the RoC.[6]
Measures to deter arrivals
From 2020 onwards, in view of the increase in arrivals, successive governments have taken various measures in an attempt to deter persons from arriving in Cyprus and applying for asylum including, suspension of examination of asylum applications of specific nationalities (mainly Syrian nationals), push backs at land and sea, measures at the “green line”, restricting access to reception conditions and restricting access to the relocation scheme.[7]
Specifically, since 2020, the Cyprus government started implementing further technologies for coastal surveillance, such as the Integrated Coastal Surveillance System. In total, the Joint Rescue Coordination Center has received €20 million in EU funding in the last 20 years, this includes projects such as the coastal surveillance system, drones, boats and the establishment of the Zenon Coordination centre in its premises.[8] The Zenon centre amongst other things is responsible for the control and early warning of migratory movement flow, aiming “to manage a complete surveillance, location, identification, prevention, command and control system, covering the maritime area of responsibility and jurisdiction of [the RoC]”.[9]
In 2021, Cypriot authorities requested that the European Commission activate Article 78(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and propose provisional measures to allow Cyprus to deal with a sudden influx of third-country nationals, including the suspension of new asylum applications until the situation becomes manageable.[10] Concerns were raised within the European Parliament about Cyprus’ expressed intention to suspend the processing of asylum applications and, in response to the European Parliament, the European Commission stated that derogations could be possible while respecting the right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement.[11] Ultimately, there were no developments on the ground with regards to the suspension of new asylum applications and these continue to be registered systematically.[12] However, in 2022, and although never announced officially, in practice asylum applications submitted by Syrian and Afghani nationals were not examined, with extremely few exceptions,[13] although the Ministry of Interior at the time acknowledged that Syria is not considered a safe country and that returns to Syria cannot be made.[14] Furthermore, the support provided by the European Commission, via the EUAA, to improve asylum procedures including the registration and examination of asylum applications continued with no reference to a suspension of asylum applications.[15] In mid-2023, the examination of cases of Syrian and Afghani nationals resumed.
Overall, the number of arrivals declined significantly in 2023, by half in comparison to 2022, however the government emphasised the need to implement a European Union action plan for the Eastern Mediterranean in order to reduce the increased number of migrants detected on this route.[16]
Regarding measures taken at the ‘Green Line’ in March 2021, the Ministry of Interior installed razor wire along the “green line” under the justification of stemming migrant crossings from the areas in the north to the areas under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus. This measure led to criticism within Cyprus as it implies the delineation of borders and further legitimises the division of Cyprus, in addition to knowing that migration will not be solved by fences. [17] Furthermore, the measures led to reactions from the European Commission as it had not been informed contrary to the Article 10 of the Green Line Regulation which provides that “any change in the policy of the government of the republic of Cyprus on crossings of persons or goods shall only become effective after the proposed changes have been notified to the Commission and the Commission has not objected to these changes within one month”.[18] Arrivals in 2021 were significantly higher than in 2020, and in 2022 the number of arrivals once again doubled compared to those of 2021, the majority of which arrived by irregularly crossing the ‘green line’, a testament to the fact that the installation of razor wire had little, if any, impact on arrivals.
In November 2021, Cyprus and Israel reached an agreement, under which the Israeli military would build a surveillance system to track activity along Cyprus’s Green Line. According to reports, the system will monitor attempts at smuggling and illegal migration, and Cypriot authorities will be provided assistance on military intelligence.[19]
Throughout 2022, other measures were announced to prevent migrants crossing the Green Line, including hiring 300 border guards to monitor the Green Line,[20] continuing the installation of the surveillance system and extending the wire fence.[21] In early 2023, it was announced that only 221 border guards fulfilled the selection criteria and were expected to take up operations in April 2023.[22] Furthermore, two cameras have been installed on the Green Line, with the intention to install 100 cameras in total, to be monitored by members of the national army. According to the authorities, when migrants are identified attempting to cross the Green Line, they attempt to stop these persons from crossing or, if this is not possible, they are transferred to Pournara First Reception Center. However, the border guards have mainly been used to guard Pournara and other locations rather than the ‘Green line’ as initially intended.[23]
With the change of government in 2023, it was announcement that the effectiveness of the razor wire as the measure was under discussion,[24] and the decision to finally remove the razor wire was announced in October 2024.[25]
Regarding pushbacks, in 2020, the Cypriot authorities, for the first time, carried out pushbacks of boats carrying mainly Syrians, Lebanese and Palestinians who had departed from Türkiye or Lebanon.[26] In total, 9 pushbacks were carried out with one more attempt in December 2020, but due to damages the boat was eventually rescued. The practice continued in 2021, with another 9 boats reported to be pushed back carrying mainly Syrian and Lebanese nationals as well as reports of 4 persons attempting to enter the areas under the effective control of the RoC and kept in the buffer zone.[27]
In 2022, 40 boats arrived in the areas under the control of the Republic. Six boats all departing from Lebanon, were identified as intercepted by the Cypriot authorities, however there may be more cases of refoulement which were not identified or located. Four boats were reported to have been returned to Lebanon, carrying approximately 354 persons. It has also been reported that among them were three Syrians, who were eventually returned to Syria. The other two boats continued the journey after having been intercepted by the RoC; one was reported to have reached Greece following the disembarkation of two people in Cyprus and the second was reported to have reached Türkiye.[28]
In 2023, there were two incidents of pushbacks in July and August, involving three boats and 109 nationals of Syria. UNHCR stated it was “extremely concerned” over the return of more than 100 Syrian nationals from Cyprus to Lebanon without a screening to determine whether they needed legal protection and given the possibility they may be deported back to their war-wracked homeland and that deportations and transfers between states“without legal and procedural safeguards for persons who may be in need of international protection”are against international and European law.[29]
In the first months of 2024, there were multiple reports of the interception and subsequent pushback of boats carrying asylum-seekers attempting to reach Cypriot shores with the risk of returnees being forcibly returned to Syria from Lebanon.[30] Furthermore, two port police boats were sent from Cyprus to patrol off the coast of Lebanon for migrant boats, which was the first mission of Cypriot ships to international waters following a mutual understanding reached with Lebanon.[31] From April 2024 onwards, following the measures taken to deter arrivals the number of boats fell significantly.[32]
In September 2024, Human Rights Watch published an extensive report on pushbacks and pull backs of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Cyprus, which stated that ‘Cypriot authorities have collectively expelled hundreds of Syrian asylum seekers without allowing them access to asylum procedures, forcing them onto vessels that traveled directly back to Lebanon. People expelled said that Lebanese army officers handed them directly to Syrian soldiers and unidentified armed men inside Syria.’[33] The Deputy Minister of Migration and international Protection responded to HRW Report by stating ‘… accusations that Lebanon and Cyprus are “working in collaboration” to prevent Syrian refugees from reaching Europe and forcibly sending them back to Syria are allegations. […] Human Rights Watch is a respected NGO of international scope, but what is included in its report is nothing more than allegations. So it is a tradition of some claims, we have repeatedly stated that as the member state that accepts the largest percentage of asylum applications in proportion to the population, we have taken some legal measures in order to protect the state’s ability to meet its international obligations.’[34]
In October 2024, the European Court of Human Right, in the case of M.A. and Z.R. v. Cyprus found that Cyprus violated the European Convention on Human Rights when it returned to Lebanon two Syrian citizens who wanted to apply for asylum. The case concerns the interception of Syrian nationals at sea by the Cypriot authorities and their immediate return to Lebanon. The ECHR found unanimously, that there had been, on account of the applicants’ return to Lebanon, a violation of Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment) of the Convention, a violation of Article 4 of Protocol No. 4 (prohibition of collective expulsion of aliens), a violation of Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) and, on account of the applicants’ treatment by the Cypriot authorities, a violation of Article 3 of the Convention. According to the ECHR, the Cypriot authorities had essentially returned M.A. and Z.R. to Lebanon without processing their asylum claims and without all the steps required under the Refugee Law. It was evident from the Government’s submissions that the national authorities had not conducted any assessment of the risk of lack of access to an effective asylum process in Lebanon or the living conditions of asylum-seekers there and had not assessed the risk of refoulement – the forcible return of refugees to a country where they might be subjected to persecution. Nor had they examined the specific situation of the individuals concerned. [35]
In March 2025, UNHCR expressed its concern as three boats with approximately 80 Syrians onboard “were reportedly pushed back by Cypriot authorities, as a result of which the Syrian nationals were forcibly returned to Syria from where they had fled”. The UNHCR also repeated its call to states to “refrain from pushbacks and summary returns of individuals without legal and procedural safeguards” and reminded them that any “law enforcement operations” had to be conducted “with the respect of international law, including refugee and human rights law, and should not result in situations incompatible with the prohibition of refoulement”. [36] In response the Cypriot government issued a statement in which it attempted to eliminate some of the “confusion” regarding the recent incidents. “We categorically deny that there were gunshots fired, water sprayed, or any pushbacks conducted, as reported in some media outlets,”. The statement also refuted accusations that Cypriot authorities were responsible for human rights violations and said that they had “never ignored a call for help” regarding SAR operations. [37]
Furthermore, in March 2025 a shipwreck happened off the coast of Cyprus that cost the lives of at least seven people. The boat was reportedly carrying 20 persons, mostly Syrian nationals, of which two persons were rescued and seven bodies recovered, sank off Cape Greco. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) confirmed that a search and rescue (SAR) operation was ongoing.[38] The official response to the tragedy led to a political row, specifically whether the Cypriot authorities responded in a timely manner to the alert that the boat was in distress, with political parties calling for a “full and independent investigation”.[39]
Pushbacks have also taken place at land and specifically at the Green Line with a small number of incidents in 2022, 2023 and 2024, as third country nationals are denied access to territories under the effective control of the Republic and to the asylum procedure when they try to cross from the official checkpoints. In December 2022, the Greek Cypriot police at the Ledra Palace checkpoint denied entry to two Turkish nationals of Kurdish origin seeking to apply for international protection. The two persons remained stranded in the buffer zone without support from the authorities; tents were supplied by UNHCR and food was supplied initially by foreign embassies and UNHCR and subsequently by UNFICYP. One of the persons remained in the buffer zone until September 2023 and was eventually given access to asylum procedures. In November 2023 an asylum seeker from Iran presented herself to the police at the Ledra Palace checkpoint, declaring her need for international protection and was denied access to asylum procedures. She remained stranded in the buffer zone for three days and was allowed entry to the areas not controlled by the RoC and returned to Türkiye.[40]
In May 2024, in an attempt to stem arrivals coming from the areas in the north, a certain number of persons crossing the green line were not permitted to enter the areas under the effective control of the RoC and were forced to remain in the buffer zone.[41] Furthermore, there were reports of persons entering the areas under the control of the RoC and reaching the First Reception Center, Pournara in an attempt to access asylum procedures and forcefully being returned to the Buffer Zone. From May to November, the number of persons in total trapped in the Buffer Zone were 147, among them children and vulnerable persons with physical and mental health concerns.[42] Furthermore, the majority of persons were from countries with protection needs such as Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan and Palestinians from Gaza. They were living in tents provided by UNHCR in extremely harsh conditions due to high temperatures during the summer months, on land infested with mosquitoes, rats and snakes. [43] Food, water, clothing and basic facilities were provided through the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) with UNHCR’s support and the RoC offering emergency medical care in the state hospital, but the persons were returned by the police back to the BZ following discharge. [44] The option of returning to the areas in the north is challenged by the fact that there is no asylum system and persons would be prosecuted for illegal entry, most possibly leading to prison sentences.[45]
Over the period from May to November 2024, persons remained trapped in the Buffer Zone, whereas in some cases they were permitted to access the areas under the control of the ROC. In October 2024, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights O’Flaherty expressed concern about the situation of migrant and asylum-seeking people stranded in the buffer zone and allegations of summary returns at sea.[46] Legal action was taken before the International Protection Administrative Court (IPAC) and an application for interim measures was submitted with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) under Rule 39.[47] The ECHR requested the Cypriot government to provide information on whether the asylum seekers had access to asylum procedures in Cyprus and whether they are at risk of indirect refoulement to the Dead Zone.[48]
In November 2024, the last remaining persons were given access to the areas under the control of the RoC. [49] In an announcement, the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection stated that ‘All the people who were there have now been transferred temporarily and exceptionally to the reception center in Kofinou, so that the procedures for their transfer to third countries or their deportation can be carried out’. [50] The Deputy Minister also stated that these persons had not been given access to asylum procedures and would not be given such access. [51] In view of the above statement, the ECHR annulled the extension given to the government of the RoC and demanded immediate response to the questions it raised.[52] It was confirmed that all persons had been given access to asylum procedures upon arrival to the areas under the control of the RoC. [53]
The Council of Europe has systematically raised concerns on the issue of pushbacks. Specifically, in 2021, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Interior of Cyprus, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović urged the Cypriot authorities to ensure that independent and effective investigations into allegations of pushbacks and of ill-treatment of arriving migrants, including persons who may be in need of international protection, be carried out by members of security forces.[54]
In October 2024, the current Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, expressed concerns regarding the situation of some 35 individuals who have been stranded in the buffer zone for several months. “Prolonged stays in poor conditions expose them to significant risks of violation of the human rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), including the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment and the right to private and family life”, he said. The Commissioner also expressed concern over reports of boats carrying migrants, including persons who may need international protection, being prevented from disembarking in Cyprus and returned, sometimes violently, without access to asylum procedures. “These actions could lead to violations of the ECHR and the UN Refugee Convention, which prohibit the return of individuals to countries where they may face human rights abuses,” the Commissioner added.[55] The President of the Republic of Cyprus in his response stated ‘The Government of the Republic of Cyprus will make every possible effort to prevent the normalization of irregular crossings through the “Green Line”, always in accordance with its obligations under international and European law… The commitment of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to provide adequate international protection to asylum seekers and to comply with the EU acquis is demonstrated by a series of events’.[56]
Other measures taken in 2024 in an attempt to stem arrivals included the government calling on the European Union to consider declaring parts of Syria safe to repatriate Syrians,[57] revocation of international protection status of Syrian beneficiaries of international protection who travelled back to Syria in the last year through the northern part of Cyprus and Türkiye,[58] and the suspension of the examination of asylum applications of Syrian nationals, regardless of the date the application was made, a measure which is still in place as of early 2025.[59]
Furthermore, from April 2024 onwards, Syrian nationals that applied for asylum are not permitted to live in the community and receive financial assistance as part of the MRC. Initially, they were transferred from Pournara to the Reception Center in Kofinou, where they were issued with residence orders. From then on, they were allowed to leave Kofinou and reside in the community however, if they opted to do so, access to material reception conditions is reduced and, specifically, they do not have access to the financial allowance. From late 2024 onwards the option is provided before leaving Pournara to move to Kofinou or live in the community without financial assistance, with the majority opting to waive entitlements to the financial allowance and live in the community. No assessment is carried out with regards to risk of destitution. [60]
Legal access to the territory
Cyprus does not provide the possibility for third country nationals to apply for a (humanitarian) visa, specifically with the intention to apply for international protection upon arrival. Only persons who are able to secure other types of visas (tourist, visitor) may have legal access to the territory (see also Family Reunification).
Cyprus does not contribute to relocations but is rather a beneficiary of relocations to other Member States. The voluntary relocation programme was agreed in June 2022 with the aim to provide concrete support to frontline countries (MED5) to manage increased flows of asylum applicants.
The programme is supported by EU funding, at the request of the concerned Member States, with assistance from the EU Asylum Agency and IOM. More specifically, resettlement activities are 100% financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). The transfers are carried out with the cooperation of the Asylum Service of the Ministry of the Interior of Cyprus, the European Asylum Service (EUAA), the European Commission and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).[61] In December 2022, the first relocations of 48 Syrian and Afghan refugees from Cyprus to other Member States took place.[62]
In 2023, 1,773 persons were relocated mainly to Germany and France, and to a lesser extent Romania, Bulgaria, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Portugal. Persons relocated are mainly nationals from Syria, Afghanistan and smaller numbers from Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Somalia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Djibouti, Palestine.
The programme continued in 2024, with 852 persons (592 cases) relocated mainly to Germany and France, and to a lesser extent Belgium and Bulgaria. Persons relocated are mainly nationals from Syria, Afghanistan and smaller numbers from Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Somalia.[63]
In view of the rise of asylum applicants from Syria requesting relocation to other EU Member States, upon arrival, in mid-2023 the government decided to exclude all new asylum applicants from the voluntary relocation programme to act as a deterrent to future arrivals. Persons arriving in Cyprus from January 2023 onwards are thus not eligible to the Program.[64] However, the majority of asylum applicants are not aware of this limitation and often request to be relocated.[65]
Prior to the current relocation programme there were limited such initiatives. In 2020, approximately 150 vulnerable asylum applicants, including unaccompanied children, were relocated to Finland as part of an initiative created by Finnish authorities to support Cyprus. In December 2021, following a visit by Pope Francis to Cyprus, 50 persons were relocated to Italy.[66]
[1] Council Regulation (EC) No 866/2004 on a regime under Article 2 of Protocol No 10 of the Act of Accession as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 587/2008.
[2] Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded – Protocol No 10 on Cyprus, 16 April 2003, available at: https://bit.ly/2vTilJ0. The Protocol on Cyprus, attached to the Treaty of Accession signed on 16 April 2003 by the Republic of Cyprus, provides for the suspension of the application of the acquis in those areas of the Republic of Cyprus where the Government of the Republic does not exercise effective control.
[3] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[4] Philenews, Migrant traffickers have changed course. What is the invasion of 458 people due to?, 21 March 2024, available in Greek at https://tinyurl.com/yrp9ps3j.
[5] UNHCR, Monthly Arrivals Trends in Cyprus 2024, available here. See also, Pjilenews, Record decrease in new asylum applications in 2024 (tables), 14 December 2024, available in Greek here.
[6] Information provided by the Cyprus Asylum Service.
[7] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[8] JRCC, Presentation by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Larnaca; JRCC, ‘2. Presentation by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Larnaca, available here.
[9] BVMN, Surveillance Technologies at European Borders: Cyprus, 8 Octobder 2024, available here.
[10] FRA, Migration: Key Fundamental Rights Concerns, Quarterly Bulletin of 01/10/21 – 31/12/21, available at: https://bit.ly/3Nmabf3.
[11] EUAA Asylum Report 2022, p. 86, available at: https://bit.ly/3FqA8rA; European Parliament, Parliamentary question – E-005330/2021, 30 November 2021, available at https://bit.ly/3mTzOv6.
[12] Information provided by the Cyprus Refugee Council.
[13] Based on monthly statistics issued by the Cyprus Asylum Service.
[14] Ministry of Interior, Statements by the Minister of the Interior after the end of the Parliamentary Interior Committee on immigration, 31 March 2022, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3mXvqLK.
[15] ECRE, Cyprus: MoU Signed with European Commission While Government Casts Blame on Asylum Applicants, 25 February 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/36Edga6.
[16] Schengen Visa News, 490% increased arrivals since 2016, 28 March 2023, available at https://bit.ly/41DH8eB; Reuters, Cyprus unveils campaign to counter spike in asylum applicants, 6 June 2023, available at https://bit.ly/3P0WXb8.
[17] Dialogos, AKEL for a fence in the dead zone: It sends dangerous political messages, 8 March 2021, available in Greek here.
[18] Cyprus Mail, Barbed-wire controversy grows, 12 March 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3m0U2ys.
[19] Times of Israel, Israel to build surveillance system to track activity along Cyprus’s Green Line, 5 November 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3CiIhf2; Cyprus Mail, Buffer zone surveillance deal signed with Israel (Updated), 5 November 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3HJ4eVL; Daniel Avis, Israel to Build Surveillance System for Cyprus Green Line, Bloomberg, 4 November 2021, available here.
[20] Phileleftheros, Nouris is looking for 300 security guards, he found 187, 23 November 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/42icJSS; Phileleftheros, 221 police guards on the Green Line, 21 Mars 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3NttpkC.
[21] Phileleftheros, They are putting up a fence for immigrants in Athienou as well, 20 January 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/42eGDrn.
[22] Alphanews, They didn’t find the 300 for the Green Line, 8 February 2023, available at https://bit.ly/3mJVw4z
[23] Information by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[24] Phileleftheros, Ioannou will remove Nouri’s barbedwire, 1 August 2023 available in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/a8y65txv.
[25] Phileleftheros, Ministerial: The Nouri fence is leaving the Green Line, 4 October 2024 available in Greek here.
[26] UN, Report of the United Nations Secretary-General on the UN operation in Cyprus, 8 January 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3MrUfYl.
[27] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council
Further details on pushbacks carried out in 2020 and 2021 are available in previous AIDA Country Reports on Cyprus, available at: https://bit.ly/4aivBFw.
[28] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[29] Associated Press, Cyprus is sending Syrian migrants back to Lebanon. The UN is concerned but Cypriots say it’s lawful’, updated on 11 August 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3NIdVJT
[30] Cyprus Mail, Five migrant boats pushed back to unknown location, 17 April 2024, available here.
[31] Cyprus Mail, Mutual commitment’ reached in Lebanon on migration (Update 2), 8 April 2024, available here; Cyprus Mail, Cyprus ships patrolling off Lebanon to deter migrants, 16 April 2024, available here.
[32] UNHCR, Monthly Arrivals Trends in Cyprus 2024, available here. See also, Pjilenews, Record decrease in new asylum applications in 2024 (tables), 14 December 2024, available in Greek here.
[33] Human Rights Watch, Lebanon/Cyprus: Refugees Pulled Back, Expelled, Then Forced Back to Syria, 4 September 2024, available here.
[34] SigmaLive, Ioannidis: It is unacceptable to accuse us of human rights violations, 5 September 2024, available in Greek here.
[35] ECtHR, M.A. and Z.R. v. Cyprus (application no. 39090/20), available here; see also, KISA, ECHR’s condemnation of Cyprus’ pushbacks to Lebanon, 8 October 2024, available here; and CNA, Cyprus condemned by ECHR for returning asylum seekers to Lebanon, 8 October 2024, available here.
[36] UNHCR, ‘UNHCR concerned about reports of pushbacks of Syrians’, 18 March 2025, available here.
[37] Philenews, ‘Government denies pushing back migrants, as more than 10 believed drowned’, 19 March 2025, available here.
[38] AP,’Migrant shipwreck off Cyprus’ coast leaves 7 dead and 2 survivors, according to state TV’, 17 March 2025, available here.
[39] Philenews, ‘Opposition parties demand investigation into Cyprus migrant boat disaster’, 18 March 2025, available here.
[40] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[41] PIO, Statements by the President of the Republic on the issue of irregular immigrants in the buffer zone, 14 June 2024, available in Greek here ; Cypurs Government, Announcement of the Deputy Ministry of Immigration and International Protection on the new arrival of irregular immigrants in the Dead Zone through occupied, 2 August 2024, available in Greek here; New York Times, Seeking Safety in Cyprus, They’re Stuck in Island’s U.N. Buffer Zone, available here; Info Migrants, EU Commission urges Cyprus to allow stranded migrants to seek asylum, 9 August 2024, available here.
[42] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[43] The Guardian, ECHR ruling for Cyprus asylum seekers may embolden refugees in buffer zone,11 October 2024, available here.
[44] UNHCR, UNHCR alarmed about the plight of those trying to access asylum in Cyprus, 12 June 2024, available here.
[45] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[46] Council of Europe, Cyprus: Commissioner O’Flaherty expresses concern about the situation of migrant and asylum-seeking people stranded in the buffer zone and allegations of summary returns at sea, 23 October 2024, available here.
[47] The application to the ECHR was made in collaboration with the Cypriot Non-Governmental Organization “Movement for Equality, Support, Anti-Racism” (KISA) and the Italian Non-Governmental Organization “Rule 39 Initiative” and the applicants are represented by lawyers Nicoletta Charalambidou and Daria Sartori.
[48] Politis, Strict deadline for Christodoulides government from ECHR after communication game and threats of deportation of asylum seekers’ 19 November 2024, available in Greek here.
[49] PhilNews, Deputy Minister of Migration: Migrants are being moved from the Buffer Zone, 31 October 2024, available in Greek here.
[50] Gov CY, Announcement of the Deputy Ministry of Immigration and International Protection on the issue of irregular migrants in the Dead Zone, 16 November 2024, available in Greek here.
[51] Reporter, In Kofinou, the immigrants who were in the Dead Zone – The Government is not afraid of any appeals to the ECtHR, 16 November 2024, available in Greek here.
[52] Politis, Strict deadline for Christodoulides government from ECHR after communication game and threats of deportation of asylum seekers, 19 November 2024, available in Greek here.
[53] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[54] CoE Commissioner for Human Rights, Cypriot authorities should investigate allegations of pushbacks and ill-treatment of migrants, improve reception conditions, and ensure an enabling environment for NGOs’, 10 March 2021, available at: https://tinyurl.com/3z2htan3.
[55] CoE Commissioner for Human Rights, Cyprus: Commissioner O’Flaherty expresses concern about the situation of migrant and asylum-seeking people stranded in the buffer zone and allegations of summary returns at sea, 31 October 2024, available here.
[56] Kathimerini, We will prevent the normalization of irregular crossings on the Green Line, 31 October 2024 available in Greek here.
[57] Reuters, Cyprus calls for EU rethink on Syria migration as refugee numbers rise, 14 December 2023, available at https://bit.ly/3tC2NHq
[58] Cyprus Mail, Govt seeks to return 30 Syrian nationals ‘ASAP’, 16 April 2024, available here.
[59] Phileleftheros, President: The examination of asylum applications in all cases of persons of Syrian origin is suspended’, 13 April 2024, avaiilable in Greek at: https://bit.ly/4aV5a8m.
[60] Philnews, Suspension of asylum applications affects thousands, 16 April 2024, available here.
[61] Cyprus Asylum Service, Relocation, available at: https://tinyurl.com/4xt27tfm
[62] Kathimerini, First group of asylum applicants relocated to Germany from Cyprus, 22 January 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3LsEx1c; Schengen Visa, First Group of Asylum Applicants Gets Relocated From Cyprus to Germany, 21 December 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3JFjeHh.
[63] Information provided by the Asylum Service.
[64] InfoMigrants, Cyprus excludes new asylum applicants from resettlement scheme, 20 July 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3H26qJK.
[65] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[66] European Migration Network, Flash: 37th edition, May 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3MconJv, 6.