18 March 2025 - Another tragedy - this time out at sea.

For the past few hours, Cyprus experiences yet another tragedy, this time out at sea. It does not matter whether the tragedy occurred within or outside the territorial waters of the Republic.

Mar 21, 2025

What matters is that seven people lost their lives, and around eleven others are missing, in their attempt to escape the dangers they faced in their country and in search of a safer and at better life. Also noteworthy is the fact that the Larnaca Search and Rescue Coordination Center was reportedly aware from the previous day, before the shipwreck tragedy.

This tragedy came just a few 24 hours after the President of the Republic's cross-channel interview and a few hours after the publication of an interview by the responsible Deputy Minister of Immigration and International Protection, who in essence was celebrating the "solution" to the immigration issue and congratulated the relevant services.

  • Following the complaints of the Commissioner for Administration regarding 27 unaccompanied minors who resided for over three months in Pournara,

  • Following the complaints regarding the detention conditions and the behavior of a police officer at Larnaca airport even within the framework of voluntary return procedures,

  • Following the many months of asylum seekers staying within the green line in violation of international law and the right of access to asylum procedures,

  • Following the condemnation of Cyprus by the ECHR for carrying out pushbacks,

 Today's tragedy comes to remind us that in the field of immigration, the government is not only unable, but does not want to protect human life and the fundamental rights of these people.

 Volt expresses not only sadness and pain for the loss of human lives, but also anger, since this tragedy could and should have been avoided. Migrants and refugees are not simple numbers to compare every month, how many arrived and how many departed and to rejoice if the account at the end is positive.

 The government must immediately stop the practices of pushbacks at sea and at the Green Line and, with whatever humanity it has left, finally demonstrate the respect it deserves for international law. Celebrations for the “solution” of the migration issue and congratulations to the competent services are not a blank check at the expense of international law and respect for human rights.