A monument honouring the memory of Tassos Isaak and Solomos Solomou, two men killed during anti-occupation protests in 1996, is set to be erected in Paralimni.

The Paralimni-Dherynia municipality announced that a planning permit has been approved for the monument. The design includes two bronze statues of the men, crafted by Cypriot sculptor Philippos Yiapanis. Approval for the statues was granted by the monuments committee, a necessary step for the permit.

Next, the municipality will apply for a building permit and open a public tender for construction. The monument will be placed in a dedicated location in Paralimni, close to where both men were born.

Mayor Giorgos Nikolettos recently met with the families of the two men. Among those present were Tasoula Isaak and her granddaughter Anastasia Isaak, as well as Angelos Kyriakou representing the Solomou family. Yiapanis and Andreas Pettemerides, from the Isaak-Solomou memorial initiative, also joined the meeting.

The families welcomed the development. In a statement, they expressed their satisfaction with the decision to proceed with the monument. Mayor Nikolettos pledged the municipality’s ongoing support. He said the aim is not only to honour the sacrifice of the two men, but also to inform future generations about the events of 1996 when the men were killed by the Turks in an anti-occupation march and the broader Cyprus conflict.