A Greek Cypriot member of the European Parliament was detained by a Turkish Cypriot military court in north Cyprus on Sunday on charges of stealing a Turkish flag, according to Reuters. Marios Matsakis is accused of tearing down a Turkish flag from a military outpost along the ceasefire line dividing Cyprus on Nov. 1. He was arrested when he appeared at a Turkish-controlled checkpoint on Saturday, carrying a gift basket of chocolates for a Turkish Cypriot official and a sponge cake supposed to bring good luck in the New Year. The court in northern Cyprus, a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara, ordered his detention until Monday pending depositions from prosecutors. It was not immediately clear what penalty Matsakis could face. The Greek Cypriot government, which represents Cyprus in the EU, has distanced itself from Matsakis but had strongly protested the arrest to the United Nations. Matsakis was heavily guarded during his appearance at the courthouse in Nicosia, Cyprus's divided capital.
