Cyprus to build new central prison in Agios Sozomenos

On September 15, 2026, the Cypriot Ministry of Justice announced that a new central prison facility will be constructed on state-owned land in the abandoned village of Agios Sozomenos. This decision follows the government's abandonment of plans to build the facility near the village of Mathiatis, where local residents had expressed strong opposition.

The relocation is driven by an urgent need to address severe overcrowding at the existing Nicosia Central Prison. According to Eurostat data, the current facility is at 227.6% of its designed capacity, the highest rate in the European Union and significantly higher than the 134.2% reported in Slovenia. A December 2025 report by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture highlighted critical issues at the current site, including high levels of inmate violence, poor living conditions, and chronic staff shortages. Government officials aim to complete the modern complex as efficiently as possible to alleviate these conditions and meet international human rights standards.