26 June 2025 - Volt Calls for Review of the Public Assemblies Bill
Volt expresses its concern about the bill being proposed under the title “The Public Assemblies and Parades Law of 2025”. The proposed framework not only undermines the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed freedom of peaceful assembly, but also introduces provisions that raise serious issues of proportionality, legal certainty and the protection of fundamental rights.
The four points that we consider problematic:
Criminalisation of intent and vagueness of the term “reasonable suspicion”: The bill provides for a penalty for refusing to disclose a person in the case of “reasonable suspicion” of future illegality. This approach reverses the presumption of innocence, circumvents legal predictability and paves the way for arbitrary interventions by the Authorities.
Neglect of spontaneous demonstrations: The draft law does not provide a clear legal framework for spontaneous assemblies, despite the explicit provisions of the ECHR case law. Spontaneous peaceful protest is often the most vivid expression of democratic participation and the absence of provision limits the essence of this right.
Excessive powers for the Police without effective judicial control: The ability to impose restrictions or disperse assemblies with a broad interpretation of terms such as “public morals” or “public security”, without clear justification and recourse to legal remedies, constitutes a direct threat to democratic freedom.
It makes the organiser co-responsible for the policing of the event, imposes excessive obligations on them and limits their ability to actively participate. In addition, information is requested that is often not known or controllable by them, placing an unjustified burden on them.
Volt believes that the protection of public order cannot be done at the expense of fundamental rights. The existence of a framework of understanding between citizens and Authorities can be useful, but it must be based on freedom, dialogue and trust, not arbitrariness.
We call on the Parliament not to approve the bill as it stands and to proceed with a radical review, in full compliance with:
the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus,
the country's commitments as a member of the Council of Europe and the European Union,
the principle of proportionality and the rule of law.
The right to protest is not a threat. It is the foundation of democracy.