Filenews 16 February 2026
Extensive reports in the case of Israeli citizen Simon Aykut contain Israeli media, according to which, his transfer to Israel to serve the rest of his sentence may be completed within this week.
The reports cite the statements of the Minister of Justice Costas Fytiris, who stated that the Republic of Cyprus has an obligation to comply with the relevant transfer agreement, pointing out that the request was submitted by Israel. They also note that no objections were raised at the last Council of Ministers, which is considered to pave the way for the immediate implementation of the process.
Aykut, 75, was sentenced in October 2025 to five years in prison after pleading guilty to 40 counts involving the development and sale of real estate on land owned by displaced Greek Cypriots in the occupied territories. He was arrested in June 2024 while crossing the Agios Dometios roadblock.
The transfer is planned to take place under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, to which both countries are parties. Israeli media note that, if completed, Aykut will serve the remainder of his sentence in Israel. Israel is obliged to ensure that the sentence is served under the Convention.
At the same time, the reports also refer to Aykut's health condition, as his family claims that he is facing serious health problems and has requested his immediate return for medical care.
CNA
