Cyprus Army Labels Maronite British-US Citizen a Deserter, Blocking Family Visits for 16 Years
A Maronite Cypriot born with British citizenship, Serge Chakmakjian, has been labelled a deserter by the Cyprus National Guard despite never receiving a draft notice or holding a Cyprus passport. His family explains that Serge, now 35, was exempt from conscription as he turned 16 in 2007, a year before mandatory military service extended to his community in 2008. Despite legal verification that his name was never on any call-up list, the army imposed a two-week military prison term and refuses to remove him from the airport stop list, preventing his visits to Cyprus and his aging parents.
Serge graduated with top A-level results in Cyprus in 2010 before studying and building his career in the United States and London. Although he holds British and US citizenship, Cyprus authorities still consider him subject to conscription, forcing his parents to travel to see him. The family appeals for investigation into this and similar cases, as military obligations can extend until the age of 50, potentially extending the issue for another 15 years. The army claims thousands face similar situations but refuses to withdraw charges to avoid setting a precedent.
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