Fitiris says central prison rendering shown to MPs was AI-generated

Nicosia, Cyprus. Justice Minister Costas Fitiris has acknowledged that the visual of the proposed new central prison, presented to the House finance committee on Monday, was generated with artificial intelligence. He said it “is not a master plan”.

Minister’s comments

In an interview with the television channel Alpha on Tuesday, Fitiris described the images as AI-made and said they merely show what the complex might contain. He added that final decisions will come only after environmental and urban planning studies are completed.

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The justice ministry had earlier characterised the rendering as a non-binding sample image that does not determine the final form or layout of the project.

What the rendering shows

The plan envisages a prison at Ayios Sozomenos with capacity for at least 1,500 inmates. In the AI-generated model, four detention wings stand on each side of a central row of facilities.

The image also includes a medical unit, a football pitch, a Christian chapel and a Muslim prayer room topped with a minaret.

Consultation, timeline and cost

Fitiris promised to give the affected municipalities the concrete plans first, so that they can offer opinions, proposals and objections. He said the goal was to reach “the golden mean” for everyone involved.

He estimated that construction would last four to five years, with works due to start by the end of next year. The cost was put at €300 million.

Choice of site

Ayios Sozomenos is an abandoned Turkish Cypriot village close to the buffer zone. It emerged as the probable location after the ministry abandoned Mathiatis in September, following strong opposition from residents.

Fitiris has said Mathiatis was set aside because of its very high financial cost and the absence of infrastructure.