Four municipal workers in Paphos face potential dismissal after being caught on camera kicking the carcass of a dead sea turtle on a Chlorakas beach.
The incident, which has sparked outrage and a debate in the House Environment Committee, involves employees of the West Paphos Community Complex, three of whom had been hired only seven months prior. While a veterinary autopsy confirmed the animal had been dead for at least 48 hours before the abuse occurred, MPs have condemned the act as a symptom of a systemic “lack of education” regarding animal welfare and environmental protection.
The legal fallout has now moved to the Law Office, where a case file has been submitted with charges of “public nuisance.” The investigation was originally triggered by a formal complaint from an Austrian tourist who witnessed the group’s behaviour on 12 January.
Nicholas Liasides, the community leader of Chlorakas, informed the committee that two investigating officers have been appointed to conduct a disciplinary probe. Under the current code of conduct, the workers face a hierarchy of penalties ranging from a simple reprimand to immediate termination of employment.
The hearing highlighted a legislative “grey zone” in the Republic’s environmental laws. Melina Markou, a Fisheries Department official, admitted that current regulations are heavily focused on the protection of live turtles, leaving a lack of clear legal consequences for the mistreatment of deceased specimens.
This loophole, combined with reports that the municipal crew was sent to collect the animal without proper equipment or training, has prompted Committee Chairman Charalambos Theopemptou to announce forthcoming amendments to toughen the prosecution framework for all forms of animal abuse, regardless of the animal’s state.
Beyond the legal technicalities, the session served as a critique of Cyprus’s broader social attitudes. Lawmakers Marina Nikolaou and Rita Theodorou Superman argued that the incident was not isolated, pointing to a wider history of animal cruelty on the island, from the shooting of strays to the harassment of turtles by tourist boats.
Activists from “Voice for Animals” and Terra Cypria further criticised the perceived “inactivity” of the Animal Police in most districts outside Limassol.
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