Lawmakers will hold an emergency parliamentary session on Wednesday to address concerns about public demonstrations after hunters from the Movement of Cypriot United Hunters blocked the main Nicosia-Limassol motorway, causing widespread traffic chaos.
The House Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Public Order will examine issues surrounding protests that disrupt traffic and public order following Sunday’s incident, which has sparked public backlash due to the scale of disruption caused.
The protest, organised by the Movement of United Cypriot Hunters (KEΚΚ), caused significant controversy as police permitted demonstrators to block the country’s primary highway.
The hunters’ demands focus primarily on year-round access to areas for training hunting dogs, including environmentally sensitive regions. According to information provided to philenews by the Ministry of Interior, KEKK is seeking access to environmentally sensitive areas between 1 March and 15 July, which is considered a critical nesting and breeding period for wildlife.
During this four-month peak period, hunting dog training areas are restricted compared to other times of the year. The Interior Ministry intends to remove Natura 2000 network areas and other environmentally sensitive regions from permitted zones, though training areas have been significantly increased for the remaining eight months.
Following a meeting between KEΚΚ representatives and the Interior Ministry, Ministry officials issued a statement explaining that the Republic of Cyprus must comply with European Directives on wild bird conservation.
The Game and Wildlife Service “will continue to evaluate areas for hunting dog training” while prioritising local wildlife protection.
The Interior Minister informed the delegation about legislative measures already being implemented, including “stricter penalties for poaching” and the introduction of on-the-spot procedures for offenders.
The committee also discussed the development of photovoltaic parks, noting that applications for installations on state land have been frozen since May 2023, with new spatial planning policies aimed at protecting the environment and wildlife.
Wednesday’s committee session is expected to shed light on how to balance citizens’ right to protest with the need to maintain public order and freedom of movement, particularly in cases causing significant social and economic disruption.
