Two civil-society organisations have demanded an independent investigation into the death of a man who fell from a balcony during an immigration raid in Larnaca, with one accusing the state of driving migrants to their deaths through its enforcement practices.
Generation for Change CY expressed deep sorrow and concern over the death of a Congolese man during the operation, which it said warranted a prompt, thorough, transparent and independent investigation, with its findings made public. The organisation said such an inquiry should establish a clear factual record of events, including the circumstances of the operation, the interaction between officers and those involved, and whether all relevant safeguards and procedures were followed.
The group said the incident could not be viewed in isolation, noting that it followed the 2024 death in Limassol of 24-year-old Bangladeshi national Anisur Rahman, who also fell from a building during an immigration operation. “Regardless of a person’s residency status, all individuals are entitled to dignity, safety, and equal protection under the law,” it said.
Generation for Change CY called for a review of enforcement procedures, measures to prevent ethnic or racial profiling, and dialogue between authorities, migrant communities and civil society. It said the death of any person during a state operation “must be treated with the utmost seriousness,” and should serve as a moment for reflection and accountability.
Far Right Watch Cyprus took a sharper line, declaring that “migration is not a crime” and accusing the state of closing off legal migration routes and pushing migrants into illegality. The organisation claimed that police impunity had led migrants to their deaths, naming Anisur Rahman, Shoaib Khan – who was killed by police in 2025 – and the latest victim. It accused President Nikos Christodoulides of seeking to show results on reducing migration flows after what it called failures in other areas.
The organisation said Cyprus had ranked among Europe’s most xenophobic countries in surveys since 2023. “Migrants are not our enemies and above all, they are people,” it said, accusing the government of reinforcing a climate of fear through enforcement raids that, it claimed, portrayed migrants as members of organised crime.
The two statements followed an immigration raid at the Filanta apartment complex in Larnaca, during which three men fell from a balcony while trying to avoid arrest. One, a Congolese national, died from a head injury, while the other two suffered lesser injuries.
Read more: