The Cyprus Forum 2026 has posthumously honoured former President George Vassiliou and Accept-LGBTI Cyprus co-founder Costas Gavrielides for their contributions to peace, democracy and human rights in Cyprus.
The awards ceremony went ahead despite the withdrawal of Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos and Turkish Cypriot Nicosia Mayor Mehmet Harmancı, who had originally been scheduled to jointly present the Peace and Democracy Award.
Mayors withdraw from ceremony
Harmancı announced his withdrawal following a dispute over the title used to identify him in the Forum programme.
Prountzos subsequently withdrew in solidarity. The dispute prompted a series of reactions and further withdrawals from the event.
As a result, the ceremony took place for the first time without the two mayors originally scheduled to present the awards.
The Cyprus Forum organisers acknowledged their responsibility for their handling of the dispute.
“We will not enter into the discussion over which side was right regarding the title. We do recognise, however, that the way we handled the issue damaged the trust of people with whom we have built relationships over many years. That is our responsibility and we will restore it,” said Oxygen for Democracy Executive President Nicolas Kyriakides.
George Vassiliou honoured
The Peace and Democracy Award was presented posthumously to George Vassiliou, who served as President of the Republic of Cyprus from 1988 to 1993.
Oxygen for Democracy honoured him for his contribution to dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot side, Cyprus’ European path and his long-standing involvement in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.
Vassiliou was associated with the resumption of dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot side, negotiations that led to Boutros-Ghali’s Set of Ideas and UN Security Council Resolution 789.
He also served as chief negotiator during Cyprus’ path towards European Union membership.
Costas Gavrielides receives human rights award
A special Lifetime Achievement Award for Human Rights, presented exceptionally this year, was awarded posthumously to Costas Gavrielides.
Gavrielides was the co-founder and first president of Accept-LGBTI Cyprus and played a leading role in organising the first Cyprus Pride in 2014.
He also served in the Republic of Cyprus’ diplomatic service and, from 2018 to 2023, as an adviser to the President of the Republic on multiculturalism, acceptance and diversity.
Organisers linked his award to the broader principle that the quality of a democracy is also reflected in how it treats marginalised groups.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kyriakides said the awards were not about peace as an abstract concept, but about individuals who had worked to advance it in practice.
“We honour people who worked for it in practice, often against the prevailing current of their time and often at personal cost,” he said, adding that their example remained particularly significant today.
