Parliamentary review of National Guard firing range safety and relocation

The Cypriot Parliamentary Defence Committee held a hearing on October 8, 2026, to address safety and operational concerns regarding the National Guard firing ranges in Tseri and Kalo Chorio. The discussion followed a serious fire incident last summer near the Kalo Chorio range, which occurred during National Guard exercises and threatened local communities, prompting the military to implement stricter safety protocols, vegetation management, and surveillance measures.

Regarding the Tseri firing range, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas confirmed that while the government intends to relocate the facility, no specific timeline can be established. Challenges include unresolved land ownership issues involving the Kykkos Monastery, the need for new permits, and the lack of a suitable alternative site. The current requisition order for Tseri expires on November 8, 2026, necessitating a new legal procedure. Officials, including Committee Chair Eugenios Champoullas, acknowledged that historical urban expansion around these military sites has created significant logistical and safety conflicts, calling for a holistic, inter-ministerial approach to military facility zoning to prevent future hazards to residential areas.