Filenews 27 May 2025 - by Michalis Hatzivisilis
After the completion of the Cypriot football championship, two bills and a bill related to violence in stadiums are back before the Parliament.
The introduction of the drug-alcohol test outside the stadiums, the abolition of the hood and the control of gatherings, will be before the Legal Committee of the Parliament tomorrow Wednesday, for a new discussion, in order to show the approaches and any disagreements.
In particular, with regard to the Government's bill to combat violence in stadiums by introducing, among other things, tests to selected fans before entering the stands to see if they have used drugs or alcohol beforehand, it is expected that the Minister of Justice and the Chief of Police, who were invited to the meeting of the Committee, will ask for its immediate vote so that with the new championship there will also be this measure to combat fan violence.
The Committee is also set for discussion the proposal for a law by DISY MPs Nikos Tornaritis, Fotini Tsiridou and Nikos Georgiou, which establishes the offence of participation of a person in a demonstration or gathering with a deliberate covering or alteration of his face in any way and/or object in order to prevent the verification of his identity.
The proposed law is also related to the phenomenon of violence in the stadiums, since just last Saturday, more than 50 masked men invaded the Popular Organizations club that houses the Omonia fan building and beat attendees, while causing extensive damage. It is expected that the discussion by article will begin and those who have reservations will express them. Recently, the European Court of Human Rights vindicated a German citizen who had been arrested for wearing a mask at a demonstration, considering that his right to expression had been violated.
The third issue that will be raised for discussion in the Legal Committee concerns the much-publicized bill that regulates gatherings and parades. According to the bill that provoked reactions, in order to organize a rally, permission must first be obtained and the organizer must be responsible for any incidents.
Meanwhile, in another development, the two 38-year-olds who were arrested before the start of the final cup last Saturday outside the GSP stadium, for possession of flares and fireworks, pleaded guilty yesterday. The two appeared at the Nicosia District Court and pleaded guilty to the charges. The Court set them a personal bail of €5000 each and issued a decree excluding them from the stadiums until June 26, 2025, when they will be sentenced.
As for the two minors who had also been arrested outside the GSP during the Police checks for illegal possession of fireworks and flares, they had been released and the file has been forwarded to the Legal Service for study and instructions on whether they will be prosecuted or placed under a de-trial program, on the basis of the legislation.
Also, the 16-year-old who was arrested yesterday in connection with the incidents in Lakatamia, was brought yesterday before a Court in Nicosia and a four-day detention order was issued against him. In total, the Police made eight arrests for the incidents in the Omonia building.
