Plans for new central prison in Ayios Sozomenos spark public interest

Recent reports have confirmed that the area surrounding the abandoned village of Ayios Sozomenos is being considered for the development of new central prison facilities. Located approximately 13 kilometers southeast of Nicosia and near Potamia, the site currently consists of ruins, including the unfinished Gothic church of Agios Mamas and various historic mud-brick structures.

Ayios Sozomenos was once a mixed village inhabited by both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. It was abandoned in 1964 following intense intercommunal violence that erupted in late 1963. The area subsequently suffered from decades of neglect, and today a significant portion of its land lies within the UN buffer zone. Historical accounts from the period, including reports from February 1964, highlight the site's role as an early epicenter of the regional conflict.

While the village is currently known as a deserted historic landmark, the decision to designate the area for modern prison construction has returned it to the center of public discourse. No further details regarding the project's timeline or construction dates have been finalized by the authorities as of late September 2026.