in-cyprus 10 July 2025
Parliament on Thursday approved a law limiting the right to protest by 28 votes to 17.
The legislation introduces mandatory seven-day notification requirements for demonstrations and new identity disclosure provisions despite opposition from 36 civil society organisations and concerns about constitutional rights.
It replaces existing assembly laws and establishes new regulations for exercising peaceful assembly rights under Article 21 of the Constitution. AKEL’s proposed amendments were rejected by 27 votes to 16.
Legislative provisions
The law requires organisers to submit written notification to local authorities and police at least seven days before planned gatherings, including contact details, purpose, timing, location, and potential impacts on traffic and public services. The Police Chief may impose restrictions considering estimated participant numbers, security risks, and likelihood of serious crimes.
Police can dissolve gatherings if they deem they cease to be peaceful, including instances involving violence or use of explosives, smoke bombs, flares, fireworks, illegal weapons, or dangerous objects. If gatherings do not disperse within reasonable time following dissolution orders, police may take “absolutely necessary measures” to disperse crowds, though the legislation does not specify what constitutes necessary measures.
The bill creates offences for inciting violence and refusing “without reasonable cause” to remove items concealing a person’s face or identity.
Parliamentary positions
DISY MP Fotini Tsiridou defended the law, stating it criminalises participation in demonstrations whilst deliberately concealing facial features “without justified reason and under conditions that create reasonable suspicion of a punishable act.” She emphasised the law does not criminalise peaceful protest and recognises spontaneous gatherings.
AKEL MP Aristos Damianou opposed the law as an “abomination” that would “alter a constitutionally guaranteed right of citizens.” He criticised the seven-day advance notification requirement and mandatory disclosure of protest details, including placards and precise timing.
Independent MP Andreas Themistocleous voted against the legislation, stating: “The right to protest, strike and demonstrate is sacred. These cannot be questioned or suspended by the mayor, the community leader, or the neighbourhood policeman.”
Independent MP Kostis Efstathiou rejected the bill, arguing: “Because we are dealing with human rights, there is no choice but to vote against this bill, which really has absolutely no relation to democracy.”
Ecologists MP Charalambos Theopemptou agreed with the concerns, stating: “The bill has many problems. The responsibilities of the Police to protect the demonstrators are not clear.”
Supporting party rationale
EDEK’s Marinos Sizopoulos supported the bill, arguing that “lawlessness must be punished” whilst protecting democratic expression.
DIPA’s Alekos Tryfonidis said the legislation addresses “an existing institutional gap.” Fellow DIPA MP Marinos Mousioutas stated the party “will monitor the implementation of this legislation and if there is any deviation or misinterpretation that questions actions, acts and intentions, we will intervene for corrective measures.”
DIKO’s Chrysis Pantelidis supported the legislation, stating it attempts to establish order in a law-abiding state that seeks to safeguard both the rights of those who wish to protest and those who do not.
ELAM’s Sotiris Ioannou said the bill does not grant police authority to ban assemblies, noting peaceful assembly rights are constitutionally guaranteed.
Civil society opposition
A coalition of 36 trade unions, human rights groups, and environmental organisations had condemned the legislation as part of “a global trend of weakening of this right, increasing police violence and repression, and an effort to silence any speech opposing those in power.”
They argued the framework inadequately addresses spontaneous demonstrations, with the coalition stating: “The bill does not provide a comprehensive legal framework for a form of spontaneous demonstration that is essentially the epitome of democratic expression.”
Concerns about police conduct
The 36-organisation coalition alleges systematic police misconduct in Cyprus, citing “acts of intimidation, unjustified arrests, and violence against protesters” and claiming “an attempt to militarise the police is underway, with officers even carrying firearms during marches.”
The law takes effect immediately.
