Bulgarian, 3 Other MEPs Detained in Northern Cyprus

Bulgarian MEP Mariya Nedelcheva (EPP) in Cyprus just a day before she was arrested by Northern Cypriot authorities. Photo from Nedelcheva's Facebook profile.

Bulgarian MEP Mariya Nedelcheva, together with three more colleagues and 7 other persons were detained by authorities in Northern Cyprus, informed the UN.

The group was on a mission to check the state of Christian Orthodox churches in the northern part of the island, which has seceded and is of predominantly ethnically Turkish population.

The group of eleven - including two priests - have been arrested in Famagusta and will be tried there within Saturday.

All 4 detained MEPs detained are from the EPP: Bulgarian Mariya Nedelcheva (member of ruling Bulgarian GERB party), Cypriot Eleni Theocharous, and Poles Artur Zasada and Jaroslaw Walesa (son of Lech Walesa).

There is conflicting information as to why the group was detained, but sources point to a minor misdemeanor on the part of one of them such as self-willingly opening the door of one of the churches inspected.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!