Parliamentary debate on bird-protection activists sparks controversy in Cyprus

The Cyprus parliamentary Environment Committee is scheduled to hold a debate this Wednesday regarding the activities of environmental groups, specifically targeting the international organization Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS). The agenda item, initially filed on June 23, 2026, by ELAM MPs Linos Papayiannis and Linos Ioannis Hadjigeorgiou, aims to assess the impact of such activists, whom the party accuses of operating outside legal bounds and attempting to ban hunting. Critics and environmental organizations argue this move serves to undermine anti-poaching efforts and intimidate those who expose illegal trapping.

CABS and BirdLife Cyprus have warned that labeling their volunteer monitoring as 'uncontrolled' could threaten their collaboration with the Police and the Game and Fauna Service. CABS reported that during the last autumn season, their interventions led to the conviction of 55 poachers and the seizure of over 1,600 lime sticks and 139 nets. Committee chairman Linos Papayiannis has stated he will not invite representatives from these organizations to the hearing, asserting that their conduct goes beyond acceptable limits. Meanwhile, the Cyprus Green Party and the Animal Party have expressed strong opposition to the proceedings, planning a protest outside the House of Representatives on Wednesday to support the right to peaceful protest.