On Tuesday, June 30^th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC), will chair a congressional hearing on the worsening human rights situation in Cyprus following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rise to power.

                The hearing will examine the Government of Turkey’s Cyprus policies under President Erdoğan within the broader trends of foreign policy—including the human rights and humanitarian implications relating to nationalism—the ongoing closure of Turkey’s border with Armenia and genocide denial, support for Azerbaijan’s aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, revisionist claims to large sea areas in the eastern Mediterranean, and its policies toward Europe.

WHAT: Congressional hearing on the ongoing human rights violations occurring in Turkish-occupied Cyprus, including restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression; pressure on journalists, critics, and civil society actors; and destruction and abuse of Greek Cypriot cultural and religious heritage.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM

WITNESSES: (Partial list)

• Panel I
• His Excellency Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus
• Panel II
• Michael Rubin, Director of Policy Analysis, Middle East Forum
• Savas Tsivicos, Alternate President, International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus; former Supreme President, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
• Sinan Ciddi, Director, Turkey Program, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

WHERE: 2255 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here

WHO: Co-Chairs of the TLHRC, other members of the Commission, and witnesses

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