Delays in Cyprus juvenile prison construction and updates on judicial reforms

Minister of Justice Costas Fytiris announced that the Menogeia facility will not be ready for conversion into a juvenile prison by the December 31, 2026, deadline. Separately, construction of a new prison facility in Mathiatis is now slated to begin in late 2027. During a session with the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Fytiris highlighted 48 pending bills, including legislation on surveillance and the confiscation of unexplained assets. The Ministry is also addressing prison overcrowding, which is exacerbated by 10 to 12 daily arrests. Plans to alleviate this include expanding eligibility criteria for electronic monitoring bracelets. Furthermore, the Ministry is currently recruiting 90 prison guards and aims to appoint a new prison director by early September. Fytiris acknowledged the severe limitations of existing infrastructure, emphasizing that current central prisons cannot be effectively modernized.