Israeli Investors Buy 70% of Abandoned Trozena Village in Southern Cyprus, Sparking Access Controversy

Reflecto News | Breaking News | Cyprus & Geopolitics

LIMASSOL, Cyprus — An Israeli-linked company has purchased approximately 70% of the buildings and a significant portion of agricultural land in the abandoned village of Trozena, located in southern Cyprus’s Diarizos Valley, sparking controversy after reports emerged that private security guards were restricting access to parts of the area .

The development has revived a ghost village that has stood empty since its last resident left in 1980, abandoned after the state failed to provide electricity, running water, or a paved road . The last resident departed Trozena in 1980, leaving behind a settlement that had already been in decline for years .

The Cyprus-registered company THV Home Resort (Trozena) Ltd was established in April 2023 and lists Trozena as its registered address . Plans for the 70% of the village’s privately-owned properties include renovating old houses, establishing a winery, an animal farm, and camping areas . According to the investor, the development will be environmentally friendly .

The project has already created employment for 10 families and is expected to create more jobs. The investor also funded the maintenance of the village’s Church of Agios Georgios, where a church service was reportedly held just 15 days ago .

The controversy began after social media posts claimed that the village had been entirely sold to Israeli interests and that access was being blocked to the public, with some posts even alleging that the local church was slated for demolition .

The community council and community leader have strongly denied these allegations. “There are no security guards, nor anyone preventing people who wish to enter the community,” Yiannakis Giannaki, Community Leader of Arsos, Trozena and Gerovasa, said in a radio interview . He suggested that if anyone was asked to leave, it was likely because they had wandered into an active construction site and was asked to leave for their own safety .

The community leader also dismissed allegations that the Israeli investor would demolish the village’s church as defamatory and false. He said there are no plans to build new structures such as apartment blocks; instead, existing homes will be restored .

An official from the Cypriot authorities stated that the village remains under state control and people can enter . The community leader challenged anyone with evidence of access restrictions to file a formal complaint with him so he can take the matter to the police .

Broader Context: Israeli Property Purchases in Cyprus

The Trozena development has raised concerns among some Greek Cypriots about increasing Israeli property purchases across the island. Israeli nationals have acquired nearly 4,000 properties across Cyprus since 2021, a trend that has generated public anxiety over property prices and access to coastal areas .

The controversy has also sparked a diplomatic incident. Last year, Akel’s secretary-general Stefanos Stefanou sparked a diplomatic row after saying on state radio that Israeli investors were “buying up” swaths of land and turning coastal districts into gated communities, prompting Israel’s ambassador in Nicosia to condemn the remarks as antisemitic .

The Trozena case is being closely watched by the Cypriot government as a test of how foreign investment interacts with local communities and property rights.

Key Takeaways

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