Tension is running high at the GSP Stadium area, where livestock farmers from the group Voice of Livestock Farmers remain gathered ahead of a planned march to the Presidential Palace.
According to the organisers, the march has not yet started, despite what they say was a prior agreement with the Nicosia Police Director for the protest to begin smoothly from the site. The main point of friction appears to be the farmers’ lorries, with police not allowing them to proceed.
Around 35 vehicles and 14 lorries remain at GSP, while more protesters continue to arrive.
The march had been scheduled to begin at 10:00 and reach the Presidential Palace at around 11:00. A strong police presence remains in the area, with officers monitoring the situation and seeking to maintain order.
The president of Voice of Livestock Farmers is currently in talks with the police officer in charge over how the march will proceed and whether protesters will be allowed to head to the Presidential Palace.
Tension has continued at the scene. At one point, a livestock farmer reportedly accelerated towards a police patrol vehicle before stopping shortly before impact.
Several protesters shouted “dictatorship”, while others called on the group to remain at the site until the evening, when the cup final is due to begin at GSP.
Police later said the initial arrangement with the organisers provided for three pick-up trucks and a number of private vehicles to take part in the march. According to police, the arrival of trailers at the site changed the terms of the original understanding.
At around 12:12, police informed the protesters that they could proceed to the Presidential Palace with all smaller lorries and a bus. The Ministry of Justice also proposed allowing three large lorries, all smaller vehicles and a bus carrying livestock farmers to head to the Presidential Palace, with the proposal still under discussion.
A group of livestock farmers has already begun moving towards the Presidential Palace on its own initiative. Protesters also warned that they could take further measures in other districts.
Deputy Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou told Alpha that “we should not rush ahead”, adding that the priority was for the protesters to reach the site safely. He said he had no information beyond the images being broadcast by the media.
The livestock farmers have reportedly put forward three possible options as part of their protest: closing the motorway, blocking ports and the Rizoelia area, or moving three lorries to the Presidential Palace to continue the demonstration.
The protesters initially appeared to have accepted a police proposal allowing 13 pick-up trucks to proceed to the Presidential Palace, with farmers getting into their vehicles ahead of the march.
However, the plan later changed, with Neophytos Neophytou, president of Voice of Livestock Farmers, announcing that the farmers would remain at GSP for the time being.
In statements, Mr Neophytou questioned what else authorities would “come up with”, as he put it, to prevent them from heading to the Presidential Palace.
The farmers are now expected to remain at GSP and wait for President Nikos Christodoulides. At the same time, thousands of football fans travelling from Limassol and Paphos for the cup final are expected to face disruption, as the protesters remain in the stadium parking area. Police have not yet drawn up a plan, according to information available so far.
