Protest scheduled against British surveillance antennas in Akrotiri

Residents of the Kourion municipality are set to hold a protest on Saturday, August 8, 2026, to oppose the British Bases' plans to install a series of surveillance antennas in the Merra area of Akrotiri. The demonstration, which is scheduled to commence at 9:30 a.m. at the first entrance to the Akrotiri municipal district, follows a unanimous decision reached during a recent community gathering. Local authorities and activists are calling for mass participation to demand the cancellation of the project.

The Kourion municipality, supported by the Cyprus Greens – Citizens' Cooperation Movement and local groups like 'Akrotiri Zero Hour', argues that the proposed infrastructure threatens the Akrotiri Salt Lake, a significant local wetland. Mayor Pantelis Georgiou stated that the project contributes to the further militarization of the area and negatively impacts environmental stability and public health. Residents are already concerned about the cumulative pressure on the region from previous residential development and existing military activity.

Demonstrators are calling on the government of the Republic of Cyprus to intervene and support their demand for the cancellation of the installation. Organizers indicate that the protest is the first in a series of planned actions, which may include further marches and potential legal steps to block the expansion of the British military facilities.