Cyprus ministry unveils plans for new prison and youth detention facility

During the discussion of the 2027 state budget on October 26, 2026, the Cypriot Minister of Justice, Costas Fytiris, presented plans for a new major correctional facility located in Agios Sozomenos. The project, estimated to cost 300 million euros, aims to house at least 1,500 inmates and address long-standing prison overcrowding. The site, spanning approximately 500,000 square meters of state-owned land, was selected after a proposal for Mathiatis was abandoned due to high infrastructure costs. The draft design features four detention wings, a medical unit, education facilities, a chapel, a mosque, and sports grounds, with over 1 million euros allocated in the 2027 budget to progress initial studies and design work.

Simultaneously, the Ministry announced a shift in policy regarding the detention of minors. Prefabricated units will be constructed adjacent to the existing Central Prisons to house minor detainees, while the current Menogeia facility will be converted into police holding cells to alleviate pressure on local stations. Minister Fytiris noted that while the initial plans are drafted, the project at Agios Sozomenos remains subject to consultations with local municipalities. The construction timeline is projected to span five years. Officials also highlighted ongoing security challenges, noting that over 90 mobile phones were confiscated from the current prison by April this year.