Introduction
Cyprus election sees boost for the far right
The far-right National People's Front (ELAM) made significant gains in Cyprus's parliamentary elections on 24th May, winning around 11% of the vote — up from 6.8% in 2021 — to become the legislature's third-largest party.
The incumbent centre-right Democratic Rally (DISY) secured first place with 27.2%, followed by the left-wing Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) with 23.9%. The result dealt a blow to President Nikos Christodoulides, whose minority coalition partners all suffered losses, potentially hampering his ability to pass legislation.
According to analysts, the results of the vote reflected public frustration over corruption scandals and the rising cost of living, and are widely seen as a bellwether ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
Freedom of association
Decision to deregister anti-racism CSO KISA overturned
On 27th October 2025, Cyprus' Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision upholding the deregistration of KISA – Action for Equality, Support and Anti-Racism from the Register of Associations, five years after the Ministry of Interior dissolved the organisation in 2020. KISA is a leading Cypriot civil society organisation working on migration, asylum, discrimination, racism, and trafficking.
As previously reported by the CIVICUS Monitor, KISA was among several associations dissolved following widely criticised amendments to the Law of Associations and Foundations, which gave organisations a two-month deadline to submit extensive administrative data or face deregistration. After initially failing to meet the deadline, KISA and other organisations were given until October 2020 to provide the Interior Ministry with the necessary documentation. Despite submitting the required information within the new deadline — including details on its general assembly and audited accounts, along with a request for an extension to provide further documentation — KISA was nonetheless removed from the registry in December of that year. The Administrative Court subsequently rejected the organisation's complaint.
In recent years, KISA has faced sustained administrative pressure in retaliation for its work, as well as harassment, smear campaigns and threats. In January 2024, KISA’s offices were targeted with an improvised explosive device, and the investigation into this attack hasn’t progressed. The organisation’s founder, Doros Polykarpou, has also been targeted with prosecution on trumped-up misdemeanour charges related to his work and is facing up to three years in prison. Human rights watchdogs have called for the charges against him to be dropped. On 29th January 2026, the second hearing in his case was postponed for the fifth time.
Freedom of peaceful assembly
Protests mount over British military bases in Cyprus
Discontent over British military bases in Cyprus sparked protests in early 2026. The two British Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) on the island, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, stayed under British jurisdiction and remained British sovereign territory when Cyprus gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1960.
On 19th January 2026, fishermen and quarry operators in Xylofagou staged protests against the firing range in Dhekelia. Fishermen claimed that military exercises were decimating fish stocks and restricting access to their grounds, while quarry companies said their expansion application had been frozen since 2018 owing to demands from the British Bases’ environmental department for studies that the Cyprus government has deemed excessive. Weeks later, on 31st January, the Dhekelia community council also protested outside the base police station, demanding action on urban planning delays, including the stalled expansion of the Xylofagou quarry.
The controversy escalated sharply in March after a drone struck the British base at Akrotiri on 2nd March, in apparent retaliation for the US and Israel’s attack on Iran. According to Reuters, Britain had moved additional air assets to Akrotiri in anticipation of the US airstrikes, having stated that its bases would not be used. However, the day before the drone strike on Akrotiri, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain had accepted a US request to use its bases for “defensive” strikes. Although the bases are under British jurisdiction, Cypriot officials say they have made clear to Britain that they should be used for humanitarian purposes only.
The Cyprus Peace Council organised anti-war demonstrations in Limassol and Nicosia on 3rd and 5th March, respectively, condemning US and Israeli strikes on Iran and warning that attacks on and around Akrotiri heighten tensions rather than offer solutions. The following weekend, hundreds of activists marched from central Nicosia to the presidential palace, carrying banners reading “Cyprus is not your launchpad” and calling for the full abolition of the bases, arguing their use in support of the US and Israel’s war on Iran had turned Cyprus into a military target.
Palestine solidarity protests follow interception of Global Sumud Flotilla off coast of Cyprus
On 18th May, 2026, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, about 250 nautical miles off the coast of Cyprus, and detained over 400 activists. Footage circulating online showed Israeli navy commandos boarding the vessel, which was located within Cyprus’s search and rescue zone. The peaceful humanitarian fleet of over 50 boats aimed to break the ongoing naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid.
Following the incident, activists called an emergency protest outside the Presidential Palace in Nicosia that same day, urging the Cypriot government to protect civilians on board the vessels and exercise its legal mandate within its area of maritime responsibility.
A second protest took place on 21st May at Limassol Castle. Organisers accused the Cypriot government of initially denying that it had received distress signals from the intercepted vessels, then attempting to avoid responsibility by labelling the boats as “suspicious” and taking no action. The statement condemned what it described as the government's complicity, noting that activists had faced torture and sexual abuse in Israeli detention. Organisers called on the public to continue demanding accountability and an end to what they described as Cyprus’s enabling role in Israel’s actions.
Cyprus Farmers Protest Government Response to Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak
Livestock farmers in Cyprus staged a series of protests in the spring of 2026 over the government’s handling of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. A major point of contention between the government and farmers was the obligation to adhere to EU guidelines. Under EU rules, FMD outbreaks require the immediate “stamping out” (culling) of all susceptible animals on affected farms, including the culling of entire herds if even one animal in a unit is infected.
Demonstrations began on 23rd April, when farmers gathered at the Rizoelia roundabout, partially closing it and issuing the president an ultimatum to intervene over mass culling, a move that coincided with the arrival of EU leaders in Cyprus for an informal council. As further protests were planned for early May, authorities took a firm stance: Justice Minister Costas Fitiris warned that no one would be allowed to occupy any section of road, and police declared that any gathering at the roundabout would not be permitted.
A planned 8th May protest was called off after the government opened dialogue with farmers. Following an initiative by the presidential palace, veterinary services, and the agriculture ministry, the group Voice of Livestock Farmers was granted a one-week period for their demands to be examined. Their central demand had been to halt the culling of FMD-positive animals.
In the community of Pachna in Limassol, protests broke out on 21st and 26th May as members of the veterinary services were about to proceed with the culling of animals at a farm where a positive case had been confirmed. On 21st May, livestock farmers reportedly attacked the veterinary inspectors, grabbing samples that had been collected and taking the keys to the officers’ official vehicle. A television crew that had been present to cover the development was also reportedly verbally attacked and threatened. On 26th May, around 300 farmers and residents gathered in Pachna to prevent the veterinary services from culling animals and from taking further samples. The police were called to the scene at the request of the veterinary service, whose representatives denied further culling was planned for that day.
Protests in the capital resumed on 29th May, when farmers marched from the GSP stadium in Nicosia towards the presidential palace, demanding a halt to culls and faster compensation payments. A resolution was finally reached on 2nd June. Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou announced that farmers had agreed to accept culling, alongside an increase in compensation for affected sheep, goat, and cattle farmers.
Suspension of cost-of-living allowance sparks massive protests, general strike in Northern Cyprus
In the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) — a breakaway state recognised only by Turkey, occupying the northern part of the island — thousands joined a general strike and mass protest in Nicosia on 30th March against plans to suspend cost-of-living allowance payments for public sector workers after April. Organised by 62 trade unions and civil society groups, demonstrators marched on the legislature building, where clashes broke out with riot police. Protesters breached security barriers, while police deployed tear gas and firefighters used water hoses in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
The strike was triggered by the ruling coalition’s proposal to freeze further cost-of-living adjustments until 2027, a move unions said would further erode living standards amid rising prices. Opposition parties supported the protests and called for the government to resign.
Earlier, Ahmet Tugcu, leader of the electricity workers’ trade union El-Sen, reported that Kib-Tek, the north’s electricity authority, had, in light of the strike, sent a private contractor to repair an electrical fault, and that the contractor had died after being electrocuted. Kib-Tek denied sending the contractor, stating that the worker had been carrying out “private construction work” when he died.
On 31st March, the ruling coalition bypassed the legislature and enacted the measure by decree after failing to secure parliamentary approval. The move drew strong criticism from opposition leaders and trade unions, who accused the government of undermining democratic procedures and ignoring public opposition expressed through the strike and protests. In response, Turkish Cypriot trade unions and the opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) took the matter to the unrecognised republic’s Supreme Court on 2nd April.
On 6th April, thousands of public sector workers and supporters joined a renewed general strike and marched on the legislature in Nicosia to oppose the suspension of cost-of-living allowance payments. Demonstrators broke through police barriers and entered the parliamentary complex after hours of standoffs with riot police, while opposition politicians joined the protest and called for early elections. According to media reports, a number of protesters took ill due to the heat. The protest coincided with the first hearing in the Constitutional Court case where unions and the opposition challenged the law. The hearing was adjourned to 9th April.
Protests escalated on 7th April as demonstrators breached police barricades and entered the legislature building, demanding the government's resignation. The action came on the third consecutive day of strikes and protests, with unions vowing to continue mobilisation until the decree cutting cost-of-living payments was withdrawn.
There were reports of arrests both on 6th and 7th April, with El-Sen leader Ahmet Tugcu reportedly among those detained, and police used force, including pepper spray, against protesters.
On 8th April, the ruling coalition formally repealed the decree cutting cost-of-living allowance payments and signalled readiness for talks with trade unions. Despite the concession, thousands of protesters returned to the legislature, breaking through police lines and again surrounding the building, though they did not enter.
Largest crowd to date gathers for Cyprus Pride in Nicosia
Thousands of people gathered in Nicosia on 6th June for Cyprus Pride 2026, marching through the capital under the slogan “Get out. On your own proud path.” Organised by the NGO Accept LGBT Cyprus, the event called for equality, visibility and an end to discrimination against LGBTQI+ people. According to organisers, this year’s Cyprus Pride drew around 6,000 participants, making it the largest Pride event in the festival’s history.
The festival, held at the Nicosia Municipal Gardens, featured performances by local artists and a march through the city centre. Organisers said the event sought to reclaim public space in the face of growing rhetoric invoking “traditional values” and the “protection of children” to justify exclusion and stigma.
Accept LGBT Cyprus also renewed calls for legislative reforms, including equal marriage, adoption rights, legal gender recognition, improved access to healthcare and stronger protections against hate speech and hate crimes.
Mazotos residents protest against coastal desalination plant
Residents of Mazotos are mobilising to oppose plans to construct an €85 million desalination plant on their coastline, raising concerns about environmental damage to one of Cyprus's few undeveloped coastal areas. The plant, designated an urgent national priority, is expected to be operational by December 2026.
Critics, including independent marine biologists and the local community council, have disputed the official environmental study’s characterisation of the site as already ecologically disturbed. Residents have commissioned an independent marine biology assessment, arguing that the area contains protected Posidonia seagrass meadows sensitive to brine discharge. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister has defended the project as essential to Cyprus’s water security, stating that the Environmental Authority had approved it subject to specific conditions.
Mazotos community members staged a protest on 24th January 2026. Demonstrators carried banners reading “We demand environmental protection” and “Without studies, without consultation, no to the dictatorship and amateurism of the government — are we third-class citizens?” Protesters demanded the immediate suspension of the project, a full independent environmental impact assessment, and compliance with national and European legislation.
In June 2026, the Mazotos Community Council escalated their dispute with the authorities, taking to court seeking an injunction to suspend construction of the desalination unit.
Wolt Drivers End Week-Long Strike Without Agreement
Around 100 delivery drivers working for Finnish food delivery company Wolt staged a week-long strike in Cyprus from 20th March 2026, gathering outside the company's Nicosia headquarters to protest over pay and working conditions. Drivers said a pay cut introduced two to three months prior had significantly reduced their earnings, with a four-kilometre delivery paying as little as €1.50, and a third-party commission further cutting into their income.
They presented three demands: higher pay, enforcement of a 20-hour weekly work limit for student drivers, and the introduction of facial recognition to prevent account-leasing. It was also reported that some drivers who participated in the strike were subjected to retaliation, having their profiles blocked, and their reinstatement was one of the demands set out by drivers in their talks with Wolt and the union PEO.
However, the Cyprus Mail reported that the talks produced no results. Drivers returned to work on 27th March, describing the decision as a “survival tactic” driven by mounting bills rather than satisfaction with the outcome. Some are now considering taking the matter to the labour court.
Investigators split over police conduct at October 2025 Gaza protest
In April 2026, Philenews reported that two criminal investigators appointed to examine allegations of police brutality at a Gaza solidarity protest in Nicosia on 2nd October 2025 had reached opposing conclusions.
As previously reported by the CIVICUS Monitor, the protest, held outside the Foreign Ministry, was organised in response to Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Videos circulating after the incident showed riot police using pepper spray and batons against demonstrators; one protester was hospitalised, and a journalist was pushed to the ground and pepper-sprayed despite repeatedly identifying herself.
According to sources consulted by Philenews, one investigator has recommended the criminal prosecution of the commanding officer, whilst the other found no criminal offences were committed. The Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints Against the Police (IAIACAP) will now review both findings before forwarding its recommendation to the public prosecutor’s office for a final decision.
Freedom of expression
Turkish Cypriot journalist receives death threats targeting family
In November 2025, it was reported that Pınar Barut, editor-in-chief of the online outlet Özgür Gazete Kıbrıs, had received multiple death threats that also targeted her family. The messages threatened to kill her, burn her home and workplace, and harm her children and husband, whilst demanding one million US dollars per person within two days. Barut reported that the threats included detailed personal information about her children and husband. According to reports, the authorities have struggled to trace the source, as the threats were sent via fake SIM cards.
Journalists’ organisations condemned the incident. On 25th November, press unions held a protest outside the Police General Directorate, urging authorities to ensure Barut's safety and identify those responsible.
Cyprus parliament fails to pass surveillance law after months of debate
In April 2026, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand telephone surveillance powers in Cyprus failed to pass, with the matter referred to the incoming parliament following elections which took place at the end of May 2026. The legislation, which would have amended Article 17 of the Constitution governing the secrecy of communications, required a majority of 38 votes — a threshold that ultimately proved out of reach as support within the parliamentary legal affairs committee collapsed.
The proposal was first examined in March 2026, when the government argued that expanded surveillance powers were necessary to combat organised crime, corruption, and national security threats. A central point of contention throughout was whether the Cyprus Intelligence Service director should be permitted to initiate surveillance without prior judicial authorisation. Critics, led by the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), argued this provided insufficient oversight and posed unacceptable risks to civil liberties. Three separate proposals were considered and all failed. Supporters warned the outcome leaves Cyprus as the only country in Europe without a legal framework for telephone surveillance.