Livestock farmers still headed to the Presidential Palace after talks with police

The protest by Cypriot livestock farmers, marked by tension and lengthy negotiations with police, will ultimately take place at the Presidential Palace, as originally planned.

In the morning, the protesters gathered near GSP Stadium, from where they were supposed to begin a march to the president’s residence. However, the march was postponed after police did not allow the passage of trucks that the farmers intended to use during the demonstration.

Amid the disagreements that arose, the protesters initially said they intended to remain at GSP Stadium. Nevertheless, the situation later changed, and a decision was made to continue toward the Presidential Palace. According to some reports, this decision may have been influenced by the final match of the Cyprus Cup taking place at GSP Stadium, where a large crowd of fans was expected.

Enhanced security measures were put in place around the Presidential Palace from early morning. In addition to reinforced police patrols, special units are present at the scene, monitoring developments and maintaining public order.

The march was originally scheduled to start at 10:00 and finish at the Presidential Palace around 11:00, but the obstacles that arose disrupted the protest timetable.

The livestock farmers are opposing measures for the mass culling of animals on farms affected by outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and are demanding a review of the authorities’ policy toward the affected holdings. Police continue to monitor the situation to prevent any public order violations during the protest.