Giorgos Ioannou appointed as new director of Cyprus central prisons

On Monday, November 2, 2026, retired brigadier Giorgos Ioannou officially assumed his duties as the permanent director of the Central Prisons in Nicosia. Selected by the Public Service Commission, Ioannou is the first permanent director to lead the institution since Anna Aristotelous stepped down in December 2022. During the intervening four-year period, the department was managed by four successive acting directors: Ioannis Kapnoullas, Charalambos Philippides, Konstantinos Konstantinides, and most recently, Maria Siali.

The handover ceremony was attended by Justice Minister Costas Fytiris, senior officials, and police leadership. Addressing the attendees, Ioannou emphasized his commitment to strict but fair rule enforcement, meritocracy, and equal treatment for both staff and inmates. Minister Fytiris highlighted that the appointment marks a formal institutional shift aimed at addressing critical systemic challenges, including chronic prison overcrowding, staff shortages, and the need for enhanced security measures. The prison officers' union, Isotita, has expressed support for the new administration, noting its readiness to collaborate on necessary reforms to protect the dignity and safety of all individuals within the facility.