The Justice Minister has pledged significant changes to the Central Prisons after two inmates tragically died within a week. Costas Fytiris announced a “swift, substantial and comprehensive intervention” to tackle pressing issues within the facility, emphasising the need for urgent improvements.
This announcement came after an urgent meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides, which followed the unsettling fatalities. The Minister visited the prison to receive updates from law enforcement and prison administration regarding the initial findings of the ongoing investigation into the deaths. He has since called for a prompt completion of this inquiry to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
At the meeting with President Christodoulides, Minister Fytiris outlined his vision for addressing the “long-standing problems” plaguing the Central Prisons. He affirmed that he now had a clear understanding of the facility’s needs and expressed his determination to implement necessary changes.
The Ministry of Justice has identified several priorities as part of its response, focusing on immediate, medium-term, and long-term measures. These initiatives revolve around three main axes:
- Decongestion of the Central Prisons.
- Improvement of inmate living conditions.
- Upgrading surveillance and control measures to prevent delinquent behaviour.
The Ministry highlighted that these actions are crucial to ensuring the prison operates in accordance with the rule of law and adheres to national and international human rights standards for all detainees and staff. Discussions also addressed the pressing issue of appointing a permanent director for the Central Prisons, a position that has remained vacant.
The recent deaths have brought renewed scrutiny to the Nicosia Central Prisons, which have long been under fire for their conditions. Reports from the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) have classified the environment as one that constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment. The CPT’s visits in 2023 and 2025 confirmed that the facility is significantly overcrowded, with many inmates confined to spaces of less than 6m² and often forced to sleep on the floor.
This overcrowding crisis is compounded by chronic understaffing, undermining essential safety and security protocols and resulting in heightened levels of violence among inmates. The volatile conditions have been linked to inadequate support for vulnerable prisoners and a significant risk of suicide.
Moreover, the CPT has condemned the ongoing practice of holding minors in unsanitary conditions lacking basic services, urging authorities to immediately transfer all children and young adults to appropriate facilities.