Giorgos Ioannou appointed as new director of the prison system

The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Cyprus has officially announced the appointment of retired brigadier general Giorgos Ioannou as the permanent director of the prison system. The appointment will take effect on November 2, 2026. This decision concludes a selection process that began earlier this year, with the vacancy notice published in the Official Gazette on January 30, 2026. Ioannou was selected following an evaluation of five candidates, during which he achieved the highest ranking, ultimately outperforming other applicants such as international relations expert Giorgos Kentas.

Ioannou is a retired National Guard officer who previously served as the commander of the Commando Command and was the first military attaché of the Republic of Cyprus to the United States. His appointment addresses a long-standing leadership vacancy that persisted for four years, following the removal of former director Anna Aristotelous and a series of interim police appointments. The PASYDY prison guards' union has publicly welcomed the decision, expressing support for the incoming director as he assumes responsibility for the operational management and security of the central correctional facilities. The new director is expected to focus on maintaining institutional order and addressing systemic challenges through military-style discipline.