Nicosia: New Minister of Justice and Public Order, Constantinos Fytiris, visited the Central Prisons on Thursday, following the publication of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) report by the Council of Europe, and pledged that "they will move in the right directions to improve conditions".
According to Cyprus News Agency, Fytiris stated this visit was planned to provide an update on the situation within the prisons, coinciding with the release of the CPT report. He expressed his intention to identify problems and pending issues to take necessary actions for improvements.
Fytiris emphasized the goal of enhancing conditions for both inmates and personnel. Responding to inquiries, he mentioned that they intend to address all issues in the coming months by accelerating ongoing initiatives.
The Minister conveyed that he engaged in discussions with prison management and personnel, and personally inspected the cells to assess living conditions. He added, "we will work to improve this system and make it truly custodial".
When questioned about his primary concern, Fytiris highlighted the importance of adhering to court decisions with a humane approach while meeting all the requirements of a proper penitentiary system.