30th anniversary of the murders of Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomou marked in Cyprus

On August 11, 2026, Cyprus marked the 30th anniversary of the deaths of Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomou, who were killed in the Deryneia buffer zone during anti-occupation demonstrations in August 1996. Isaac was beaten to death by Turkish nationalists and members of the Grey Wolves on August 11, while his cousin, Solomos, was shot to death three days later while attempting to remove a Turkish flag from a military post. Commemorative events took place in Paralimni, featuring a speech by President Nikos Christodoulides and the unveiling of a new memorial.

President Christodoulides reiterated the state's commitment to justice, announcing that the Republic of Cyprus is intensifying efforts to execute 13 national and five international arrest warrants. Officials emphasized that accountability has not reached a conclusion, as the perpetrators, despite being identified and wanted, remain at large and, in some cases, occupy political roles in the occupied territories. The government and the Isaac-Solomou Memorial Initiative continue to demand that the international community and the European Union fulfill their obligations to hold those responsible for the 1996 incidents accountable, maintaining that the pursuit of justice is a matter of dignity and principle rather than revenge.