Motorcyclists of the Isaac-Solomou memorial initiative symbolically closed the Zodia-Astromeritis crossing point for a few minutes on Friday, in the context of events to commemorate 30 years since the deaths of Tasos Isaac and Solomos Solomou.

The crossing point remained open to traffic during the presence of the bikers, who distributed leaflets to commuters.

The bikers began their procession at 3.15pm with various stops at Nicosia district crossing points and are expected to complete their route at 8pm.

The ride will continue on Saturday, when bikers gather in all districts and ride to the Dherynia crossing point.

On Sunday, a delegation and relatives of Tasos Isaac and Solomos Solomou will lay wreaths at the Dherynia crossing point and then attend a memorial service at Saint Demetrios church in Paralimni, followed by a blessing at the Paralimni cemetery.

Isaac died on August 11, 1996, when Greek Cypriot motorcyclist protesters were met in the buffer zone by Turkish Cypriot counter-protesters who, according to the United Nations report on the incident, were “joined by members of the Grey Wolves who had come from Turkey”.

The incident became violent as demonstrators from both sides broke into the buffer zone. Isaac became entangled in barbed wire in the buffer zone and was beaten to death by Turkish Cypriots and Turks who had also entered the area.

Three days later, Solomou was shot dead when, following Isaac’s funeral, Greek Cypriot demonstrators once again travelled to Dherynia.

He separated himself from other protesters and walked towards a Turkish military post, climbing a flagpole to remove a Turkish flag and was fatally shot by a Turkish soldier.

Last month, President Nikos Christodoulides said there had been “developments” regarding the case of Isaac and Solomou.

He said what happened in August 1996 was “murders and nothing else”, adding that “the matter is not closed.”

“There are developments on this issue about which the right and proper thing is not to speak publicly,” he said.

The president said he would be informing the families “away from the spotlight”.

He was speaking on July 17 upon the arrival of a group of motorcyclists who had been touring Greece to mark the 30th anniversary of the men’s deaths.

The motorcyclists had visited the village of Karavas, on the island of Kythera, in the village of Keryneia, which is located in the Achaea regional unit, and on the island of Salamis, just off the coast of Piraeus. All three locations share the names of locations in the occupied north, namely the Kyrenia district village of Karavas, Kyrenia itself and ancient Salamis.

Christodoulides had said he would be travelling to Dherynia with the motorcyclists on August 8 to mark the anniversary.