Livestock farmers protest against mass culling at Rizoelia roundabout

On Thursday, livestock farmers gathered at the Rizoelia roundabout to protest against the mass culling of animals due to foot-and-mouth disease. The protesters, led by representative Stella Petrou, demanded an immediate halt to the cullings and a review of government compensation schemes. During the demonstration, farmers blocked the roundabout and access to Larnaca port, prompting Justice Minister Costas Fytiris to intervene and request that lanes be reopened for safety reasons. Following a brief confrontation, including an incident where a farmer presented his child to the minister, tensions began to ease in the afternoon. Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou subsequently invited a three-member delegation to the ministry for formal consultations. While farmers agreed to open one lane as a gesture of goodwill, they remain on-site and warned of further escalations if their demands remain unmet. The protests were strategically timed to coincide with a working dinner for EU leaders in Ayia Napa, forcing authorities to divert transport routes.