Lawlessness is being ‘celebrated’ said the chairman of the House legal committee on Wednesday, commenting on the series of uncontrolled bonfires and homemade explosives across Cyprus over Easter.

Speaking to CyBC morning radio, Nikos Tornaritis did not mince his words: “The state has no right to tolerate such behaviour.”

His comments follow a series of violent incidents on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, involving masked youths, Molotov cocktails, homemade explosives and attacks on police. Bonfires, part of the so-called “lambradjia” tradition, also once again exposed the public to danger.

According to Tornaritis, law enforcement officers and civilians were threatened in multiple regions, with the most serious clashes recorded in Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca and Nicosia. In Limassol’s Ayios Ioannis, the riot squad had to intervene after a group of masked youths launched fireworks and petrol bombs at police officers.

Despite clear laws under the municipalities’ act and a European directive that prohibit the lighting of fires without permits, enforcement appeared nonexistent.

“We’ve reached a point where lawlessness is celebrated,” Tornaritis said, noting that the bill aimed at regulating the issue arrived in Parliament too late to be implemented before Easter.

The proposed legislation would have allowed municipalities to license and oversee bonfire activities. But several communities refused the responsibility, fearing backlash or logistical failure.

Once perceived as a festive custom, “lambradjia” bonfires and fireworks have morphed into hubs of antisocial behaviour.

In many cases, children and teenagers are found handling explosives, encouraged, or at least not stopped, by adults. The result, authorities say, is a culture of impunity.

“The state appears weak, passive, and indifferent,” said a senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We submit proposals for prevention every year. But they’re shelved. Every time.”

This Easter, tragedy struck in Strovolos. Daniel Christian Fratilescu, a young man preparing a bonfire, was killed. The incident led to renewed demands for tougher oversight and safer practices.

The union of Cypriot municipalities responded with a rare joint statement, urging authorities to show “greater determination”. While offering condolences to the victim’s family, the union stressed the problem is not the lack of laws but the unwillingness to enforce them.

“Legislation alone is not enough to tackle lawlessness,” the statement read.

“What is missing is the resolve to impose order where and when it is needed.”

The union also dismissed attempts to blame recent incidents on a pending bonfire and fireworks bill, insisting that fires within development zones are already illegal under current legislation.

The House legal affairs committee is set to meet again on April 25. Although the agenda includes discussions on new penalties and enforcement tools, expectations are low. Past attempts to regulate bonfires have failed under pressure from community leaders.

Some argue that tradition should not be criminalised. But others, including police unions and legal experts, warn that continuing to tolerate these dangerous practices will lead to more deaths.

“Tradition should not be a shield for violence,” said Eleni Demetriou, a criminologist at the University of Cyprus.

“This is no longer about culture. It’s about public safety and the rule of law.”

Akel argues that the government, particularly the justice ministry, has shown no real understanding of the severity of these incidents. The minister of justice faces growing criticism for repeated failures, with accusations of political deflection and a lack of leadership.

The police association has echoed these concerns, condemning the violent targeting of officers during the Easter period. Their statement urges swift action from the state and society, underlining that police are not enemies but protectors.