Nicosia, Cyprus. Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said immediate measures to improve conditions at Cyprus’ central prison will be implemented before a new facility is completed. He said a schedule for action within three to six months was agreed during a meeting with relevant services.
Interim upgrades planned within months
Fitiris said the timetable was set during a meeting with the central prison directorate, the department of public works and the electromechanical service. He described the measures as an interim solution aimed at improving inmates’ living conditions.
Planned works include general renovations, a separate entrance for prison staff, a new clothing warehouse, construction of a new health clinic, a new laundry, and the implementation of a system intended to prevent the use of mobile phones inside the prison.
Additional steps to ease pressure
Fitiris said other measures have been introduced to ease pressure on the facility, including the use of a surveillance system to monitor and possibly expand the conditional release of convicts. He said these steps would be carried out with full assurance of public safety.
He said on Monday that a comprehensive set of measures to address persisting problems at the prison would be presented by the end of March and were likely to include a mobile phone signal interruption system.
New facility planned outside Nicosia
Fitiris said that instead of earlier plans to expand existing facilities at an estimated cost of €40 to €50 million, he had proposed creating a new facility outside the urban area of Nicosia.
He said the government aims to complete the design within a year, but construction could take up to five years even if work began immediately.
Long-running public debate
The situation at Cyprus’ central prison has long been a subject of public debate. Public outcry peaked after the Council of Europe’s committee for the prevention of torture issued a report in December 2025 voicing “grave concerns” about persisting conditions.
What changes do you think should be prioritised to improve conditions at the central prison?