This is not the first time the need to regulate the issue, without decisions, especially after the events in the Limassol Molos
The protest event held last Sunday, closing all four strips on the Nicosia-Limassol highway at Skarinos, has made it even more urgent to make the need to regulate important aspects of the right of the gathering.
This is not the first time that the need to regulate this issue has not been discussed. And in the recent past there have been similar discussions, without decisions. Especially after the events in the Molos of Limassol and the gathering that the participants turned it into violent episodes.
In front of the Parliamentary Law Committee is the government bill that regulates many aspects of demonstrations and rallies. The issue has already been discussed once on February 26th. During the first debate, parliamentary parties and stakeholders recognized the need for legislation for rallies and demonstrations. However, they have expressed concerns and reservations about specific provisions of the bill that will be discussed at a later stage.
The bill explicitly provides when the police can disperse a massive concentration and when they can intervene to comply with order. Criminal offenses and sentences are also foreseen, and the face coverage is also criminalized. The bill, which bears the title of public rallies and parades of 2025, aims to ensure the exercise of the right to meet peacefully and to determine constitutionally permissible regulations for its exertion or its public or public or public or public or public or public security morals or protecting constitutional rights and freedoms of any person.
According to the provisions of the bill, an organizer who intends to organize a rally or parade sends a written notice to this purpose at the Local Administration Authority within which the gathering or parade is expected to take place. The notice will be sent in electronic or printed form, at least 7 days before the date on which the gathering or parade is scheduled to take place.
Regarding the obligations of the Police, it is stipulated that during the preparation and conduct of the gathering or parade, the Police Chief appoints a responsible officer for the creation of direct contact with the organizer or his representative and for the constant cooperation and communication between the Police and the Organizer. Where there is a reasonable suspicion that a concentration or parade will become non -peaceful or that any offense has been committed or committed in the gathering or parade area, the Police may order any person in the gathering or parade area as it removes or removes any object or product
Imprisonment and a fine are provided for those who have covered persons or do not comply with the decision to dissolve the concentration. According to the bill, a person who in any way conceals his identity or alter his characteristics in a way that is not recognizable is guilty of an offense and, in the event of a conviction, is subject to a prison sentence not exceeding two years or a fine of not exceeding € 3.000 or two. The same penalties are also provided for those who, after the decision to dissolve, remain at the event, concealing or altering their characteristics. However, the debate in Parliament seems to still be a road until the bill is taken to vote and its provisions are implemented.
Articles of the Criminal Code
Until the new law is adopted by which criminal offenses are provided and regulated the most important aspects for demonstrations or other mass concentrations, specific articles of the Criminal Code determine the context of illegal gatherings. In particular, it is determined when a rally ceases to be peaceful and becomes illegal. Article 70 of the Criminal Code, in particular, provides that “the gathering of five or more persons are intentional to commit a criminal offense or who have gathered with the intention of performing a common purpose, behave in such a way that they stimulate the person who is in the area who are in the area that they are in terms of the area. Unnecessarily and without sufficient reason, other persons cause peace to cross. The rally is illegal, and if it still began as legal, if the participants in the gathering behave for a common purpose according to the manner mentioned above. When the illegal rally began to accomplish the purpose of either public or private in nature for which it was gathered, for peace and in terms of terror of the public, the rally is characterized as bullshit, those who have gathered are considered to have gathered bullies. “
Regarding the penalties provided for, Article 71 stipulates that anyone who participates in illegal rally is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to one -year imprisonment. Also, anyone who participates in tricks is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to three years in prison.
Dismantling
According to Article 73 of the Criminal Code, the Province of Procedure or, in the absence of it, any police officer of the Officer or Senior, in which twelve or more are gathered, or anyone who concludes that he is to be borne by twelve or more. Announcement, in the name of the Republic in the press he wanted to consider appropriate, which orders the volatilities or the concentrated in this way to dissolve peacefully.
The next article foresees that if after a reasonable time, when such a call was made to dismantle or after the abuses of the issuance of such a notice, twelve or more are still bullied, the one who is authorized or authorized by anyone who is authorized to The dissolution of the assemblies in this way or for the arrest of all or some of them, but if he or she wished, he may use such violence as reasonably necessary to combat resistance, without any criminal or civil liability to cause death or bodily harm.