Fake Passport Suspects Sentenced to 60 Days in Jail

The defendants were charged with "using false official documents" and admitted to the charges. In court, Eleftheriadis' attorney cited his client's kidney condition, while Anikin's attorney mentioned that Anikin was suffering from cancer. The defense requested a lenient sentence, emphasizing that both defendants were remorseful, had no prior criminal records, and that their crime had not caused harm.

Judge Ergüden noted that the crimes were public order offenses and that such offenses had become increasingly common. Although the court took into account the defendants' age, health issues, and clean records as mitigating factors, it imposed a 60-day prison sentence on each.

Case Details

On May 30, 2024, at around 14:53, Dimitrios Eleftheriadis attempted to pass through the Metehan Border Crossing with vehicle license plate LBJ 418, presenting passports for himself and passenger Sergei Semenovich Anikin. It was discovered that the Azerbaijan passport for Anikin was fake. During the investigation, Anikin fled into a restricted military zone and escaped into the TRNC.

Eleftheriadis claimed he had stopped at a gas station in Ortaköy where two men in a red car offered him $100 to transport Anikin to the North after they had been unable to cross into the South. Police seized the $100 as evidence. The red vehicle, identified as ZUA 002, was later found in İskele, and Anikin was arrested. Both suspects were remanded in custody on June 2, 2024.