Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides has pardoned 11 third-country nationals serving sentences at the central prison, with all 11 set to be released and immediately deported, the justice ministry said on Friday.
Pardons linked to prison decongestion policy
The justice ministry said the pardons and subsequent deportations are being carried out within the framework of a broader policy to decongest prisons. It added that all 11 had been scheduled for release later this year.
The ministry said legal procedures were immediately activated, leading to the deportation of the individuals and the placement of their names on a list of prohibited persons to prevent their return to the Republic of Cyprus.
Government cites public security and rule of law
The ministry described the move as part of a broader set of measures aimed at addressing chronic prison overcrowding, with full respect for the rule of law and with a view to strengthening public security.
It follows an earlier government announcement that 164 third-country nationals held at the central prison and other detention centres were deported between December 10 and January 20.
Overcrowding and living conditions highlighted by Council of Europe body
In December, the Council of Europe’s committee for the prevention of torture said living conditions at the central prison remain very poor and are affected by severe overcrowding. It said overcrowding had reached the extent that up to four prisoners share cells of less than six square metres.
The committee said that in such cells, two people are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor, despite the cells being scarcely sufficient for one person.
More than 1,000 people are currently incarcerated at the central prison.
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