Cyprus' Audit Office has identified cases in which benefits intended for former prisoners of war from the 1974 Turkish invasion were paid to individuals whose entitlement could not be substantiated.
According to the findings, eight cases out of 852 benefit recipients reviewed appear not to be supported by the available documentation. The Audit Office cautioned that the actual number of non-eligible beneficiaries could be higher because the review was sample-based and existing records contain significant gaps.
Former conscripted soldiers who were held as prisoners of war during the 1974 invasion receive honorary benefits through the Social Insurance Services, while some are also eligible for a care allowance through the Benefits Administration Service. During 2025, a total of 852 individuals received at least one of these benefits.
Purpose of the review
The audit sought to determine whether prisoner-of-war status could be verified through adequate and reliable documentation and whether benefits were being paid only to legitimate recipients.
Of the 832 people receiving benefits as former conscript prisoners of war, auditors identified 15 recipients whose names did not appear either in the Ministry of Defence Prisoner Registry or in records held by the Cyprus Red Cross.
Further examination of military conscription records found that:
- Six individuals had in fact been prisoners of war but were incorrectly omitted from the Ministry of Defence registry.
- Three individuals had been detained as hostages and were therefore entitled to a different benefit, but not to benefits specifically for prisoners of war.
- Six individuals had no documentary evidence available to confirm prisoner-of-war status.
As a result, the Audit Office concluded that payment of prisoner-of-war benefits in those six cases could not be justified on the basis of available records.
Problems with verification procedures
The Social Insurance Services told auditors that prisoner-of-war status is verified through the Ministry of Defence registry, electronic military records or written confirmation from the ministry.
However, during on-site inspections relating to the 15 disputed cases, auditors found no documentation demonstrating that these procedures had actually been followed.
The review also found that the prisoner registry maintained by the Social Insurance Services is not regularly updated.
Cross-checking all 852 beneficiaries against Red Cross and Ministry of Defence records revealed:
- 20 recipients who were absent from both databases.
- 130 recipients who appeared in Red Cross records but not in the Ministry of Defence prisoner registry.
A more detailed review of 77 cases from military recruitment offices in Nicosia, Kyrenia and Morphou uncovered two additional cases in which benefits were being received without supporting evidence in military records.
The Audit Office said these findings expose weaknesses in both the accuracy and completeness of the official registry.
Weaknesses in military records
Auditors also identified significant shortcomings in the military records used to compile the prisoner registry.
In 39 of the 77 cases examined, key information was missing, including details of military units or the dates on which captivity began and ended.
The review also found entries that had been added many years after 1974. Authorities said those entries were originally based on supporting documents that have since been destroyed, making independent verification impossible.
In a further sample of six cases, no additional historical documentation could be located. According to the National Guard, relevant unit records were lost during the 1974 invasion.
The Audit Office said the findings highlight longstanding weaknesses in the records used to verify eligibility and suggest that additional cases may require review.
