Sampson, Nikos

▪ 2002

Nikos Georghiades 

      Greek Cypriot journalist and militant nationalist (b. Dec. 16, 1934, Famagusta, Cyprus—d. May 9, 2001, Nicosia, Cyprus), was president of Cyprus for eight days in 1974, but the coup of which he was a part led directly to the Turkish invasion that resulted in the island nation's division into two antagonistic parts. Sampson, a member of the EOKA guerrilla movement, was sentenced to death in 1957 for having assassinated British servicemen stationed in Cyprus, but he was released from prison when the island gained its independence in 1960. On July 15, 1974, when military forces under the direction of Greek officers overthrew the Cypriot government under Archbishop Makarios III, Sampson was named president. Turkish forces landed on Cyprus on July 20, and three days later Sampson resigned in favour of Glafkos Clerides. In 1977 Sampson was the only participant in the coup to face trial. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment, but in 1979 he was permitted to go to France for medical treatment. He returned to prison in 1990, but he was freed again because of his continuing poor health.

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