Philenews

Changes to Assembly Regulations Approved After OSCE Incident

Published January 21, 2026, 09:23
Changes to Assembly Regulations Approved After OSCE Incident

The Cypriot Parliament is preparing to vote on amendments to legislation concerning assemblies and parades, following reactions sparked by the recent incident involving the OSCE representative. According to the changes, a permit will no longer be required to organize events, and organizers will not be subject to penalties. Regarding face coverings (hoods), the Police will only have the right to request their removal if the protester carries an offensive weapon, such as a knife or club. The new legislation provides for the removal of troublemakers in the event of isolated acts of violence, instead of dissolving the entire assembly, as previously applied. Dissolving the assembly will be the last resort, with the use of proportionate force. In addition, the Police will maintain a register of parades, which has drawn criticism from AKEL, which has characterized it as "dossiering". AKEL insists on the repeal of the law, while the government maintains that the changes are necessary to protect public order and avoid excessive reactions.