Memorial events held for Isaac and Solomou on their 30th anniversary

Members of the Isaac-Solomou Memorial Initiative held symbolic commemorations on Friday to mark the 30th anniversary of the deaths of Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomou, who were killed in the buffer zone in August 1996. The initiative organized a motorcycle procession that began at 3.15pm, conducting a symbolic closure of the Astromeritis-Zodia crossing point while distributing leaflets to commuters. The crossing remained operational for traffic despite the bikers' presence.

Events are scheduled to continue throughout the weekend, including a mass ride to the Dherynia crossing point on Saturday. On Sunday, family members and delegates will lay wreaths at the Dherynia crossing, followed by a memorial service at Saint Demetrios church in Paralimni. These events honor the two men who died during protests in 1996; Isaac was beaten to death by Turkish Cypriot counter-protesters, including members of the Grey Wolves, while Solomou was shot dead three days later at Dherynia. The UN reports from the period describe the 1996 incidents as violent, noting that demonstrators from both sides had breached the buffer zone.