Concerns raised over prison relocation to Ayios Sozomenos

The Ecologist Movement – Citizens' Cooperation has expressed strong reservations regarding the government's plan to relocate the central prisons to the area of Ayios Sozomenos. The party warns that the selected site impacts a protected zone within the European Natura 2000 network, which holds significant archaeological and environmental value.

This development follows a government decision from last week to abandon the previous site at Mathiatis in favor of the Ayios Sozomenos location. Justice Minister Costas Fitiris justified the change by citing cost and time efficiency, noting that the site is already equipped with necessary infrastructure such as road access, electricity, water, and sewage systems. The proposed new prison facility is estimated to cost approximately €300 million.

The Ecologists have demanded that the government halt further planning until meaningful consultations are held with local authorities and residents of the wider area. They argue that the area's historical status as an abandoned settlement does not justify classifying it as "no man's land" or bypassing comprehensive environmental assessments. The party maintains that all critical factors must be thoroughly examined before any final decision on the project is implemented.