The talks centred around the situation in Nicosia Central Prisons (NCP) and the Government's plans to address the Committee's recommendations as set out in the report on the April 2025 ad hoc visit. The focus of the meeting was the overcrowding in the NCP and the nefarious effects it has on the functioning of the prison. Issues concerning police detention in Cyprus were also addressed, notably as regards remand and sentenced prisoners held in police stations for prolonged periods.
The CPT delegation met with Costas Fitiris, Minister of Justice and Public Order, and Maria Shiali, Acting Director of the Prisons Department, along with officials from the Ministry of Justice and Cyprus Department for Prisons.
The CPT delegation also presented the key issues from its 2025 visit report at a round table conference bringing together representatives from the Ministries of Justice, Immigration, Social Welfare and the Attorney General's Office, the Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights, as well as prison and police officials, lawyers and representatives from civil society organisations. The conference was organised within the framework of a joint Council of Europe and European Union funded project on technical support for more effective and resilient NPM.
At this round table the CPT delegation also spoke with Nicholas Ioannides, Deputy Minister for Immigration, and , Maria Stylianou-Lottides, the Commissioner for the Administration and the Protection of Human Rights.
The CPT was represented by Alan Mitchell (President), Hugh Chetwynd (Executive Secretary) and Francesca Gordon (Advisor, CPT Secretariat).
