As a Cypriot lawyer specialising in INTERPOL and cross-border criminal law, I am frequently asked whether extradition is possible from the occupied area of Cyprus, commonly referred to as “Northern Cyprus” or the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The answer is clear and strictly legal: no.

The so-called TRNC is recognised only by Turkey. The United Nations, the European Union, and the entire international community recognise the Republic of Cyprus as the sole legitimate authority over the island. This political and legal reality creates a significant and often dangerous vacuum in international police cooperation, particularly in matters involving INTERPOL Notices and extradition.

Is extradition possible directly from the occupied area?

Legally, no. There is no recognised authority in the occupied part of Cyprus capable of signing or enforcing extradition treaties.

Does the Republic of Cyprus cooperate with the occupied area?

Again, legally, no. Any form of cooperation would amount to de facto recognition of an illegal entity.

What exactly is the so-called TRNC?

After the 1974 Turkish invasion, 37 % of the island fell under unlawful occupation. In 1983, the occupying administration proclaimed the so-called TRNC, an entity under Turkey’s effective control but without any international legitimacy. As a result, there are no formal international treaties, no judicial cooperation, no international oversight, and no access to INTERPOL databases.

This means criminal records cannot be verified, identities cannot be checked, and individuals flagged with INTERPOL Red Notices can enter or reside there freely. This is why the occupied area is repeatedly described as a “haven for fugitives”.

A safe “haven” for criminals

This legal vacuum has made the occupied area of Cyprus a well-known safe haven for fugitives wanted by INTERPOL. A clear example is S.M., a former Russian banker accused of embezzling 2.7 billion rubles. Although he had been the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice since 2018, he lived openly in the occupied territory, using a forged Albanian passport to secure residency and purchase extensive real estate. Ultimately, following negotiations between Russia and Turkey, he was flown from “Ercan Airport” to Moscow on a private jet, escorted by Russian special forces and Turkish officers.

This case, one of many, demonstrates how the occupied area of Cyprus operates beyond the reach of international law. The lack of recognition of the so-called TRNC means no extradition treaties, no judicial cooperation, and no access to INTERPOL databases. This creates a dangerous law-enforcement gap that criminals can easily exploit. 

It also exposes a deeper paradox: an illegality (the invasion and continued occupation of Cyprus) that the international community cannot recognise, or INTERPOL produces a legal vacuum that enables fugitives, fraudsters, and organised crime networks to evade justice with ease.