Eyewitness account of the 1974 Cypriot coup

Andreas Polydorou provided a detailed testimony to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) regarding his personal experiences during the 1974 coup d'état and the subsequent Turkish invasion. He recounted his experiences involving arrests, physical abuse, and harsh detention conditions, emphasizing the importance of preventing a return of political fanaticism for future generations.

Polydorou recalled that the coup began while the song "To Poukamiso to Thalassi" was playing on the radio. At approximately 12:30 p.m. on the day of the coup, while working on his family's farm in Kato Pervolia, he states that former Paphos DIKO Member of Parliament Nikos Pittokopitis and the president of the Union of Pro-Makarios Fighters, Mikis Tempriotis, arrived to requisition the family's Land Rover. Although his father initially refused, he eventually surrendered the vehicle after further demands were made by other individuals.