Nicosia: Thirty years after the brutal murders of Tassos Isaak and Solomos Solomou, members of their families and eyewitnesses spoke to CNA about the tragic events that unfolded in August 1996, giving shocking personal testimonies about those dramatic days that marked their lives forever.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Cyprus Motorcyclists Federation organized a European anti-occupation march in the summer of 1996, which began in Berlin and was supposed to end in the Turkish-occupied town of Kyrenia. Despite a decision to cancel the Cyprus segment of the march, some motorcyclists continued towards the Deryneia point, where serious incidents erupted in the buffer zone.
On August 11, 24-year-old Tassos Isaak was beaten to death by Turkish Cypriots and members of the Grey Wolves while UN peacekeepers stood by. Three days later, his cousin, 26-year-old Solomos Solomou, was fatally shot while attempting to take down a Turkish flag, an act that was broadcast live and led to global outrage.
Tasos Isaak's daughter, Anastasia Isaak, expressed that her father's sacrifice was for the freedom of Cyprus, emphasizing that justice is needed not only for his murderers but also for those affected by the ongoing occupation. Solomos Solomou's sister, Stella Solomou, shared the family's enduring bitterness over the murderers' freedom and the lack of justice.
Deputy Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou, who covered the events as a reporter, described the tension and brutality of the murders, while eyewitness Andreas Pettemerides recounted the chaos and gunfire that followed Solomou's death.
President of the Kyrenia Bar Association, Nikolas Constantinides, highlighted the European Court of Human Rights' condemnation of Turkey for violating human rights and detailed the ongoing efforts to issue arrest warrants for those responsible. He stressed the importance of using European Arrest Warrants to ensure the apprehension of the accused in EU member states.
Dr. Kyriakos Yiangkou, from the Initiative of the Memory of Isaac-Solomos, noted the organization's efforts to honor the memory of the victims and promote justice and freedom through annual events.
Cyprus remains divided, with Turkish troops occupying 37% of the island since 1974. The pursuit of justice for Isaak and Solomou continues as a reminder of the broader struggle for peace and reconciliation on the island.