Dialogos

AKEL Law Proposal on Assemblies: Full Respect for Freedom of Expression

Published January 21, 2026, 11:02
AKEL Law Proposal on Assemblies: Full Respect for Freedom of Expression

AKEL MP Irene Charalambidou announced that the revised bill on 'Public Assemblies and Parades' will be put to a vote in the Plenary Session of the Parliament within 15 days. The new proposal, which has received a positive assessment from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, aims to correct problematic points of the original bill that were deemed to violate basic human rights. The most important changes included in the bill concern the permissible participation in demonstrations with covered faces, unless there is an immediate threat or dangerous behavior. Additionally, it allows for the holding of spontaneous or scheduled gatherings without the existence of an official organizer. Another important element is the prohibition of the police dispersing an entire assembly due to the behavior of individual people causing disturbances. This amendment aims to protect the freedom of assembly and expression. Ms. Charalambidou expressed her satisfaction with the rapid adoption of the changes by the Legal Committee, emphasizing that the new legislation meets the modern needs of society and respects democratic values and human rights.