Protest planned against new British Bases antenna project in Akrotiri

Residents of Akrotiri and the Kourion Municipality are set to hold a protest on Saturday, August 8, at 9:30 am, beginning at the entrance to the Akrotiri municipal district. The demonstration is organized to oppose the British Bases administration's plans to install 68 new antennas, a new building, and additional infrastructure in the Merra area, which sits within an environmentally protected wetland site adjacent to the Akrotiri Salt Lake.

Kourion Mayor Pantelis Georgiou stated that the decision to mobilize followed the unexpected delivery of a requisition order for land, which occurred despite ongoing consultations. The municipality argues that the project further militarizes the area, poses risks to public health, and contradicts regional development goals. The protest is supported by local movements, including "Akrotiri Zero Hour" and the Akrotiri Merra Committee.

In response to the growing unrest, the Sovereign Base Area (SBA) administration issued a statement confirming that the project is an infrastructure modernization effort. They emphasized that they respect the right to peaceful protest and asserted that all future work will strictly adhere to legal frameworks, including the completion of environmental impact studies and public consultations. The administration has also offered to co-fund independent scientific research regarding electromagnetic emissions to address public concerns.