Cyprus honours today all those who sacrificed their life to defend democracy during the coup d’etat

Air raid sirens sounded at 8.20 am to mark the 48th anniversary of the 1974 coup, aiming to overthrow President Makarios.

On this day 48 years ago, the Greek military junta and its Greek Cypriot collaborators- EOKA-B-, toppled the democratically elected President of Cyprus, the late Archbishop Makarios III.

The people of Cyprus honour today all those who sacrificed their lives to defend democracy during the coup d’etat on the 15th of July 1974.

The coup staged by the Athens junta served Turkey as a pretext to invade Cyprus.

President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, accompanied by Defence Minister Charalampos Petrides, will attend the memorial service for all those who perished during the 15th July 1974 coup at at Saints Constantinos and Eleni Church

Memorial services took place in other towns as well on July 10 and members of the Cabinet represented the government and laid wreaths on behalf of the President. The service in Paralimni will take place July 17th.