Newsroom
Traffic is flowing normally again at the Rizoelia roundabout on Friday morning, police said, after a tense day that saw one of Larnaca’s key junctions partially blocked by protesting livestock farmers.
Authorities confirmed there are no longer any disruptions on the road network, bringing relief to drivers after hours of delays and detours.
The blockage began on Thursday when livestock farmers took to the streets in protest over the culling of animals linked to foot-and-mouth disease. At its peak, the roundabout was fully closed before one lane was briefly reopened later in the day to ease pressure.
But the protest didn’t wind down easily.
By Thursday night, around 200 farmers and their family members were still gathered at the site, according to protest spokesperson Stella Petrou.
The demonstration came amid growing anger in the farming community over how the outbreak is being handled—and what they say are devastating measures affecting their livelihoods.
On the government side, officials were firm.
Andreas Grigoriou, Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, warned in a written statement that suspending the culling of animals would go against EU rules and could put Cyprus at risk of serious consequences, including issues linked to its access to the single market.
He urged the protesters to stand down, stressing that without cooperation and an end to the roadblocks, there can be no meaningful dialogue.
“Without cooperation and an end to the mobilizations, dialogue cannot continue,” he said bluntly.
Grigoriou also warned that ignoring EU regulations on animal and public health could carry wider fallout for the country, noting that these rules apply across all member states without exception.
Thursday’s standoff followed a long meeting between officials and a farmers’ delegation, held in the presence of Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou.
Officials say they repeatedly called for calm and cooperation, arguing that strict adherence to the measures is the only way to contain the virus and protect the livestock sector in the long run.
One of the key points of friction was the farmers’ demand for a suspension of animal culling combined with nationwide testing. According to the ministry, the farmers believe this would show the virus is more widespread than officially recorded, something they say could be used to pressure the EU into allowing infected animals to remain in units.
Authorities, however, strongly rejected that approach, warning it could backfire and undermine efforts to control the disease.
Grigoriou said preliminary testing has already been carried out in Limassol, Paphos and Famagusta, with no positive cases detected so far.
He also pointed out something that may be less visible but critical: human movement is helping the virus spread. In that context, he warned that protests and large gatherings can actually increase the risk of transmission.
Despite the standoff, officials insist there is still support on the table. Compensation schemes are already in place, with payments having started back in March.
But the message from the ministry remained firm: support is available, but only if cooperation follows.
“Without cooperation and an end to the protests, dialogue cannot continue, nor can we ensure the virus does not spread,” Grigoriou said.
For now, Rizoelia is open again and traffic is back to normal, but the dispute behind the scenes is clearly still very much alive.
