Note: The Government of the Republic of Cyprus is the only internationally recognized government on the island, but since 1974 the northern third of Cyprus has been administered by Turkish Cypriots. This area proclaimed itself the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” in 1983. The United States does not recognize the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”; Turkey (Türkiye) is the only country that does. A substantial number of Turkish troops remain on the island. A buffer zone, or “Green Line,” patrolled by a UN peacekeeping force, separates the two areas. This report outlines developments in both communities. There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in the Republic of Cyprus or the area administered by Turkish Cypriots during the year. Significant human rights issues in the Republic of Cyprus included credible reports of: substantial interference with freedom of association of nongovernmental organizations; refoulement of asylum seekers to a country where they would face torture or persecution; and crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of national or ethnic minority groups, including foreign asylum seekers. The Republic of Cyprus government took steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses, although there were limited cases of impunity. In the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, significant human rights issues included: harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including violence or threats of violence against journalists, and enforcement of or threat to enforce criminal libel laws to limit expression; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including for nongovernmental organizations; restrictions on freedom of movement and residence within the territory of a “state” and on the right to leave the area administrated by Turkish Cypriots; refoulement of refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they would face torture or persecution, including serious harms; serious “government” corruption; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of national or ethnic minority groups, including foreign asylum seekers; and trafficking in persons, including forced labor. “Authorities” in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots took limited credible steps to identify and punish “officials” who may have committed human rights abuses. There was evidence, however, of widespread impunity.