Congolese couple held in police custody at airport in south Cyprus for two months cry out about poor living condition

 

A Congolese couple who have been held in a holding cell at Larnaca airport in Cyprus (south) for over two months are said to be living in very poor condition.

The couple from Congo who had been denied entrance to Cyprus at the weekend shared images of their living condition with the press. The incident was first reported by the website “alphanews.live” and subsequently aired by ALPHA TV, titled “Shameful Images – Detainees Locked up for Months at Larnaca Airport.”

Responding to the press, the Greek Cypriot police on Sunday said the case refers to two people from Congo who have not been permitted entrance to the Republic and were detained at a special holding area at Larnaca Airport for approximately two and a half months.

The police outlined that their detention was due to an ongoing asylum process in another country. “For this reason they have been kept at a special holding area at Larnaca airport for about two months,” a police statement said. They were kept in custody while asylum applications they have lodged in another country are evaluated, it added.

During their detention, the individuals were provided with all necessary arrangements by the relevant authorities, and conditions in the detention area met the required standards.

The police also dismissed claims made by the individuals regarding their detention conditions, stating that the photos published by them were misleading and aimed at creating false impressions. According to the authorities, the conditions did not pose any health risks to the detainees.

Police said the photos published do not represent conditions at the airport and were taken by the couple being held to give the wrong impression.

“In no case do the conditions under which they are being kept threaten their health,” police said.

The two detainees were deported from Cyprus on December 8, 2024.