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New Prison to be Built in Mathiatis, Cyprus

Published March 23, 2026, 17:13
New Prison to be Built in Mathiatis, Cyprus

The Ministry of Justice announced the construction of a new prison in Mathiatis, Cyprus, on a 1.3 million square meter site, with a budget of €300 million and a capacity of 1500 beds. Simultaneously, the recruitment of 90 prison guards is underway, along with the selection of a new Director for the Central Prisons, for which 37 applications have been submitted. The announcement was made before the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, which was examining the conditions of detention in the Central Prisons and the protection of prisoners' rights. The Committee's President, Giorgos Koukoumas, described the Central Prisons as a "hub of crime" and expressed satisfaction with the current Minister's recognition of the situation. Committee members, such as Irene Charalambidou and Rita Supermann, raised questions regarding recruitment, staff training, the selection of a Director, and the overcrowding of the prisons. Christos Senekis welcomed the intention to transform the Central Prisons into a correctional facility, while Alexandra Attalidou pointed out that the problems of the prisons are related to their administration. Minister of Justice, Kostas Fytiris, acknowledged the problems of the correctional system and the exhaustion of the Central Prisons staff due to staff shortages and outdated facilities. He clarified that the selection of the Director of the Prisons will be made by the Public Service Commission, expressing hope for the selection of the most suitable candidate.