Cyprus Ministry of Justice reviews alternative sites for new central prisons

The Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order is reconsidering the development of new central prisons, which were originally planned for the Mathiatis-Kataliontas area. Minister Constantinos Fytiris confirmed that while the Mathiatis location has not been completely abandoned, the ministry is evaluating five potential alternative sites to avoid further delays due to local opposition. The primary alternative under consideration is an isolated, state-owned plot in the Agios Sozomenos area of Nicosia, which requires no expropriations and avoids residential proximity issues.

The project involves a significant investment estimated to exceed 300 million euros, with the new facility designed to accommodate approximately 1,500 inmates. The comprehensive plan includes the construction of three distinct types of prisons, featuring a high-security closed facility with a 60-meter dead zone buffer. Authorities are scheduled to present a preliminary master plan to the residents of Mathiatis this September to address concerns and determine if the original site remains viable, failing which the ministry intends to pivot immediately to its backup strategy.