Protesters placed banners and posters on sidewalks and stone fences calling for the containment of NATO and the policy of Russophobia.

A protest action against the European Union’s anti-Russian policy was organized on April 24th, 2026 in connection with the second and final day of the EU summit in Nicosia, a TASS correspondent reports.

The latest reason for the protesters to express their harsh disagreement with the line of Brussels was the approval by the Council of the European Union of financing Kiev for a sum of € 90 billion for 2026-27 and the finalizing of the 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions. Both of these decisions were announced a few hours before the opening of the informal EU summit in Cyprus.

The first day of the forum took place at the Ayia Napa marina, but the second was already in Nicosia, and European leaders and senior leaders of EU institutions passing through the streets of the Cypriot capital watched as a group of activists who openly call themselves friends of Russia lined up along their motorcades. The protesters placed banners and posters on sidewalks and stone fences calling for the containment of NATO and the policy of Russophobia, as well as for the priority role of traditional family values in society. In addition, they held in their hands the national flags of Cyprus, Russian tricolours, banners with the face of Christ and even the banner of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

As Mikis Filaniotis, a participant and organizer of the action, chairman of the Cyprus-Russia Friendship Society, explained to a TASS correspondent, the flags gathered together symbolize the historical and cultural ties between Russia and Cyprus, the face of Christ is the Orthodox faith held by the majority of residents of the two countries, and the Victory banner is the upcoming celebration on May 9.