Alpha News

Cyprus Justice Minister Announces Plans for New Prison

Published January 8, 2026, 13:23

The new Minister of Justice, Kostas Fytiris, is prioritizing the reform of the Central Prisons, with plans including the construction of a new correctional facility. During his 4th visit to the prisons, he announced a series of measures, while the President of the Prison Officers Branch of the ISOTITA Pan-Cypriot Trade Union, Giorgos Maltesos, expressed enthusiasm for the recognition of important problems and their requests, such as mandatory training for prison officers and improvement of the building facilities. However, he stressed the need for immediate implementation of a specific schedule. Members of Parliament from the House Legal Affairs Committee welcomed the intention for new prisons, emphasizing that investment in the existing building may be ineffective, and requested a specific plan and timeline from the government. Additionally, the need to address overcrowding, mobile phone dependency, and legislative regulations for defendants was mentioned.