Illegal kindergarten in Larnaca closed following state intervention

An illegal kindergarten in Larnaca, Cyprus, has been forcibly closed following a series of public complaints and repeated state interventions. The facility had been operating without a valid license since 2024, when its registration certificate was officially suspended. Despite this, the center continued to accept children, prompting Member of Parliament Dimitris Souglis to bring the unsafe conditions to public attention, alleging that employees and parents who previously attempted to expose the issue were subjected to threats.

Maria Kyratzi, representing the Social Welfare Services, confirmed that the state had been investigating the facility long before the recent media reports. Authorities stated that multiple complaints were filed with the police and health departments, and some cases have already been referred to the court. Since August 2026, intervention efforts by the Social Welfare Services and the police were intensified to protect children and guide parents in filing their own reports. Tina Pavlou noted that the final closure on September 9, 2026, was not voluntary but the result of coordinated enforcement actions. State officials are now urging parents to verify the licensing status of childcare facilities before enrollment, while acknowledging that the primary responsibility for oversight remains with the state.