Cyprus today honours the memory of those who died in the coup of July 15, 1974, marking 52 years since what state commemorations describe as the traitorous coup carried out by the Athens junta and EOKA B.
The Cypriot people, the Government, the House of Representatives and organised groups are paying tribute to all those who lost their lives defending democracy and legality, honouring the resistance of the state’s legitimate forces and hundreds of volunteer civilians who defended the Republic. Sirens sounded in every city at 8:20am today, the hour the coup began in 1974.
President Nikos Christodoulides, accompanied by ministers, attended the traditional memorial service for those who fell during the coup, to be held at the Church of Saints Constantine and Helena at 8:30am. Political parties, municipalities and organisations are also holding commemorative events.
Background
On the morning of July 15, 1974, the Athens military junta and its collaborators in Cyprus, through EOKA B, moved against elected President Archbishop Makarios III, aiming to overthrow the legitimate government.
Tanks entered Nicosia targeting the presidential guard, and other key points in the capital and other towns and villages were also attacked, leaving dozens dead and hundreds wounded.
Makarios was at the Presidential Palace that morning and was evacuated by aides through the palace’s one unguarded route as the building came under attack from armoured vehicles and tanks. He took refuge first at Kykkos Monastery and then in Paphos.
The plotters seized the state broadcaster, CyBC, and falsely announced that Makarios was dead and that Nikos Sampson had been sworn in as president. Makarios was alive, and addressed the Cypriot people via an improvised radio station in Paphos, telling them: “I am not dead… I am alive.”
Five days later, Turkey invaded Cyprus in two phases.
(information from CNA)