Filenews 7 February 2026 - by Michalis Chatzivasilis
Change in plans for juvenile prisons due to the peculiar situation with prison overcrowding. The Minister of Justice, Kostas Fytiris, seeing the needs that are being created, acted quickly and changed the plans for the creation of the juvenile prison in Mennogia.
As Mr. Fytiris told "F", because the numbers of minors are small, it was deemed useful not to "sacrifice" a space that can accommodate 128 people to keep 15-20 people, as many as there are minors today. That is why the decisions that were being made so that the detention centers for illegal immigrants in Mennogeia would be converted into juvenile prisons and detention of suspects, have been changed, and will become a temporary prison for the detention of offenders, until the construction of the new prisons.
Regarding where the minors will be held since the existing detention centers within the Central Prisons are also considered inappropriate by the Committee against Torture of the Council of Europe (CPT), the Minister of Justice said that a small but suitable place has been found for their detention. This area is located in the complex of the Central Prison but outside the closed prison. In this way, the decongestion of the prisons is achieved since the Special 8 wing that is currently used for the detention of minors up to 21 years old will be emptied and on the other hand, a space that can accommodate more than 100 prisoners for less than 20 will not be occupied. Also, the few minors will be kept in a place where they will not come into contact with long-term convicts.
It is noted that the juvenile prison should have been ready more than a year ago, however the delay in the completion of the projects in the Lakes did not allow the change of premises in Mennogia. Now the plans have changed completely, as they had changed for the construction of a new wing, since the construction of completely new prisons is being promoted.
As Mr. Fytiris characteristically mentioned, immediate needs force us to find solutions immediately so as not to create additional problems in an already overburdened prison. It is noted that the first phase of the Limnes Pre-Removal Center in Mennogeia has been completed and it is expected that the migrants detained in Mennogeia will soon be transferred there.
In the meantime, the decision to deport those foreigners found to be illegally in Cyprus is being implemented immediately. According to the instructions of the Minister of Justice, any foreigner found not to have a residence permit will be arrested and detained for a maximum of four days in police detention centers and then deported to his country. In this way, the burden on the already overburdened penitentiary will be avoided and at the same time the courts will not be involved and the state will not be financially burdened for the maintenance of these people while they are in custody.
