Cypriot parliament committee debates anti-poaching activist operations

On September 16, 2026, the Cypriot House Environment Committee is convening to discuss the activities of environmental activists, specifically the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS). The session was prompted by ELAM MPs Linos Papayiannis and Linos-Ioannis Chatzigeorgiou, who originally filed an agenda item in June 2026 regarding the "uncontrolled actions" of activists. Critics, including BirdLife Cyprus and the Environmental Movement, argue that the initiative aims to criminalize civil society and protect poachers, pointing out that CABS's cooperation with police and game authorities led to 55 convictions of bird poachers last autumn alone, along with the seizure of 1,621 limesticks and the release of over 1,200 birds.

Controversy has intensified as the Committee excluded key environmental organizations, such as BirdLife Cyprus and CABS, from the debate. Activist groups have formally requested the protection of their right to monitor wildlife crimes, citing previous reports by the Ombudsman that cleared volunteers of malicious complaints filed by poachers. The session follows recent reports of physical attacks on activists in the field, leading to calls for better safety protocols. While ELAM claims their goal is to ensure public order and legal compliance, environmental groups view the proceedings as a political move to undermine anti-poaching enforcement.