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Avgolida is a Turkish Cypriot village located in the lower Karpasia/Karpaz peninsula, three miles inland from Boghaz village. The meaning of the name is obscure, but Goodwin suggests it might be related to the word “eggs,” in Greek (“avga”). Turkish Cypriots adopted the alternative name Kurtuluş in 1959. It means “Liberation” in Turkish. 

 

 

As can be seen from the chart above, during the British period the village was inhabited predominantly by Turkish Cypriots. The number of Greek Cypriots in the village fluctuated between 4 and 11 persons until 1946, when they vanished from the census records. During the first half of the 20^th century, the village’s population increased considerably from 77 in 1901 to 155 in 1946 (all Turkish Cypriots). There was a significant drop recorded after 1946, when the population dropped from 155 in that year to 115 in 1960.

Displacement:

From its original population no one was displaced; however in 1964, the village served as a reception centre for displaced Turkish Cypriots, mainly from Monarga/Boğaztepe(176). From 1964 to 1974, it was administratively part of the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Galateia/Mehmetcik(144). Political geographer Richard Patrick estimated the village’s population at 144 in 1971. He also claimed that there were 20 displaced Turkish Cypriots still living in Avgolida/Kurtuluş in that year.

Current Inhabitants:

Today the village is mainly inhabited by its original villagers. Some displaced Turkish Cypriots who took refuge in the village in the 1960s have also remained there. The 2006 Turkish Cypriot census puts the population at 85.   

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Websites:

• http://www.cyprus-village.com/ (for the villages)
• http://news.karpasha.com/
• http://human-rights-archaeology.blogspot.com/
• http://kypros.org/Occupied_Cyprus/ (for the villages in the north)