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Livestock farmers protest against mass culling due to foot-and-mouth disease

On Thursday, livestock farmers organized a mass protest at the Rizoelia roundabout, blocking traffic to demand an immediate end to the culling of healthy animals amid the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Represented by Stella Petrou, the protesters issued an ultimatum to President Christodoulides, threatening to escalate their actions every two hours if the culling policy is not suspended by 2:00 pm. The farmers utilized symbolic items, including a coffin and an icon of Saint George, to protest the economic impact of the mass culling measures. According to data provided to the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, 104 units in Nicosia and Larnaca have been infected, leading to the culling of approximately 37,000 sheep and goats, 2,200 cattle, and 21,000 pigs. The Ministry of Agriculture stated that vaccination and testing protocols are ongoing, with initial compensation payments currently being processed for affected farmers. While the farmers aimed to distribute leaflets in one lane, police closed the entire roundabout to ensure safety and to divert traffic away from the area, which is near routes used by EU leaders attending a summit in Ayia Napa. The demonstration remains ongoing under heavy police supervision.

Original Sources

FMD spreads to over 100 farms, third pig unit hit
Cyprus Mail · 21 April 2026, 18:32
Foot-and-mouth outbreak: Third pig farm infected
Sigmalive English · 21 April 2026, 16:41