Private proposals for the construction of new prisons have already been submitted to the Cypriot Minister of Justice

The Minister of Justice and Public Order of Cyprus, Costas Ftiris, has already received two proposals from private intermediaries regarding the construction of new Central Prisons.

The proposals were sent directly to the Ministry of Justice; however, according to sources, it is too early to discuss specific construction stages. The project is at an initial stage, and several mandatory procedures must be completed before an official announcement on the construction of a new correctional facility.

One of the proposals reportedly came from a former political figure who had shown interest in a similar project earlier, when the possibility of building new prisons was already being considered. At that time, the initiative had to be shelved due to excessively high costs.

The Minister of Justice previously stated that the new project will be carried out efficiently and with minimal costs, but before this, it is necessary to conduct:

• a technical and economic feasibility study,
• architectural and engineering surveys,
• financial planning,
• and consultations with residents of neighborhoods near the proposed construction site.

According to sources, special attention will be paid to working with the local population. Authorities intend to reassure residents that the prison will be located on state land, several kilometers from residential areas, and will represent a secure, closed infrastructure that poses no threat.

The decision to build new prisons was made against the backdrop of acute problems in the existing penitentiary complex — overcrowding, outdated infrastructure, and regular criticism from European human rights organizations.

As part of the new strategy, the previously planned construction of an additional 360-bed wing next to the existing prison was canceled. Studies and documentation had already been prepared for that project, and the Ministry of Public Works was ready to announce a tender.

The idea of building new prisons has been discussed in Cyprus since 2000; however, high costs over many years delayed its implementation. As a result, authorities limited themselves to modernizing existing facilities, which did not solve the overcrowding problem.

Currently, Cyprus prisons house over 1,100 inmates, while their official capacity is about 750 people.