The Alma Movement has described the 15 July 1974 coup as an act of national betrayal, saying its consequences continue to shape Cyprus more than five decades later.
In a statement marking the 52nd anniversary of the coup, the movement said the overthrow attempt against President Archbishop Makarios III, organised by the Athens junta and carried out by EOKA B, represented the culmination of a deliberate effort that dismantled constitutional order, wounded democracy and paved the way for the Turkish invasion and the island's continuing division.
According to the movement, history leaves no room for ambiguity about the events of 1974. "The coup was an act of national betrayal."
It argued that those who turned against the Republic of Cyprus, whether through ideological fanaticism, personal ambition or conscious choice, ultimately betrayed the very people they claimed to serve.
Memory and political maturity
The movement said that, 52 years later, the occupation remains a reality and the consequences of the coup continue to influence the country's trajectory.
It stressed that historical memory is essential for political maturity, warning that societies which blur the distinction between democracy and political subversion, or between resistance and betrayal, risk repeating the mistakes of the past in new forms.
Democracy must be defended daily
According to the Alma Movement, the greatest tribute to those who defended constitutional legality is the continued protection of democratic institutions, the rule of law and institutional accountability.
The statement argued that while democracy can be overthrown by force, it can also be eroded through the weakening of institutions, the misuse of power and impunity becoming accepted as normal.
‘Our strongest political achievement’
The movement described the Republic of Cyprus as the country's strongest institutional and political achievement, saying its defence remains a shared national responsibility.
It concluded that strong institutions, democratic consciousness and respect for the rule of law are the only reliable guarantees that the tragedies of the past will not be repeated. "The memory of 15 July reminds us that democracy must be won, protected and defended every day."
