The Greek Cypriot administration rejected the request of 5 TRNC citizens of Turkish-Bulgarian origin, who wanted to benefit from the Green Line Regulation and cross over to the Greek Cypriot side.

Last Friday (8 October), 5 Bulgarian citizens, on completing the same procedure that applies to EU member country citizens at the Ledra Palace Border Gate were prevented from crossing over to South Cyprus.

On being stopped by Greek Cypriot police at the Greek Cypriot control point, the 5 Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origins were all indivually questioned and 4 of them had their TRNC identity cards taken away. Later, all 5 were put into one room and on the pretext that "they entered the country through an illegal port" they were prohibited from crossing over to South Cyprus.

Meanwhile, petitions written by all 5 of the Bulgarian citizens stating that this was contrary to the Green Line Regulation and that they would be seeking their rights in the European Commission and national judiciary organs were not taken by Greek Cypriot police and photocopies were taken.