Cyprus prepares master plan for new prison facility

Minister of Justice and Public Order Costas Fytiris announced that a master plan for a new correctional facility in Cyprus will be ready by September or early October. The project aims to replace current prison infrastructure, with a proposed location identified in the Mathiatis area. The ministry is exploring financing options through the Council of Europe Development Bank. These improvements are being guided by the observations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT). The committee is currently in Nicosia for a roundtable discussion during the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU. Minister Fytiris stated that he has visited the existing prison facility seven to eight times since taking office to assess ongoing issues. The current central prison will be renamed a correctional institution as part of the structural reforms. The minister noted that while he cannot present the current situation as ideal, these steps serve as a roadmap for necessary improvements.