Funeral of former minister to be held on Sunday

The funeral of former Interior and Defence Minister Socratis Hasikos who died earlier this week will take place on Sunday in the presence of the president, the defence ministry said on Friday.

The ceremony, to be broadcast live by Omega TV, will start at 11am at Ayios Nicolaos church in Episkopio village, Nicosia.

“All the measures provided by the health protocols to deal with the pandemic will be observed,” the ministry added.

Only the family will be allowed inside the church, as well as President Nicos Anastasiades and House President Adamos Adamou.

Other state officials who will attend will follow the proceedings in a specially designated space in the courtyard.

The family will not accept condolences but requested instead of wreaths, donations to be submitted to anti-cancer associations Arodafnousa and Pasykaf.

Donations to Pasykaf can be made at: www.ourbeloved.cy.

Hasikos died on Monday at the age of 64 after a long battle with cancer.

He was appointed Minister of Defence under the Glafkos Clerides administration in 1999 and held this position until February 28, 2003.

On March 1, 2013, Hasikos was appointed interior minister by President Nicos Anastasiades. On May 10, 2017, he resigned for personal reasons.

His wife, Elli Koulermou, died of cancer in 2019 aged 54. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.