Rasa Zilevis, a 53-year-old Lithuanian woman suspected in a case involving the alleged usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas, has disappeared after being released under restrictive conditions in France while awaiting extradition to Cyprus.
The suspect had been arrested in France on the basis of a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Republic of Cyprus.
On Friday, arrangements had been completed for members of the Cyprus Police to travel to France and escort her to Cyprus after her appeal against a lower-court ruling approving her extradition had been rejected.
Under the applicable procedure, the suspect, who had been released subject to conditions, was required to present herself at an airport in France in order to be handed over to Cypriot police officers for transfer to Cyprus.
She never appeared.
French authorities informed Cyprus Police of her failure to attend, resulting in the cancellation of the planned police mission from Cyprus.
A warrant has now been issued for her arrest and she is being sought by French police.
A source told Politis that once she is apprehended by French authorities, she will be detained in France and subsequently extradited to Cyprus. In other words, she will remain in the custody of the French authorities until her transfer to the Republic.
According to information obtained by Politis, return flights for the Cypriot police escort team and the Lithuanian suspect had already been arranged for late on Friday night. Preparatory work had also been completed for her appearance before the Nicosia District Court on Saturday for the purposes of obtaining a remand order.
Arrested in Nice
Zilevis, who has worked for years as a real estate agent in the occupied areas, was arrested on 16 May in France as a suspect in an alleged case involving Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied north.
She was detained at Nice Airport under a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Republic of Cyprus and lodged an appeal in early July against the execution of the warrant.
A few days ago, the competent French court rejected her appeal against the initial extradition ruling, a development that effectively cleared the way for her transfer to Cyprus to face charges and stand trial before a court of the Republic.
Court ruling
In its decision, the French Court of Appeal underlined that the so-called "TRNC" in the occupied areas is the result of a serious violation of international law, which prohibits the use of force and the acquisition of territory by force.
The court stated that there is therefore an obligation not to recognise this unlawful situation and to refrain from any action that would contribute to its maintenance.
Wider significance
The developments surrounding the Lithuanian suspect are regarded as significant despite her disappearance and failure to be transferred to Cyprus.
The same French court had previously rejected a request by the Republic of Cyprus for the extradition of an Iranian national in a separate case involving the alleged usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas.
