Livestock farmer initiates legal action against veterinary services in Geri

On March 20, 2026, a dispute occurred in Geri between professional livestock farmer Paraskevas Loizou and the Cypriot Veterinary Services regarding the management of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Legal representatives for Loizou allege that veterinary officials entered his property without authorization or proper documentation, prompting the farmer to initially deny them entry. The situation escalated to police involvement, resulting in Loizou being detained at a local police station for four hours. The legal team claims the intervention lacked a legal basis and that the subsequent decision to cull animals was made without transparent procedures. Conversely, the farmer reports that he has been subjected to threats throughout the process. The dispute centers on allegations of negligence, improper management of the disease, and violations of the owner's rights. The veterinary services maintain their actions are part of standard disease control measures.