**Nicosia, Cyprus** – In a decisive move to address the burgeoning issue of prison overcrowding, the Cyprus government has announced a plan to deport foreign nationals convicted of less serious offences. The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday, aims to significantly reduce the inmate population at the Central Prison and tackle systemic problems within the facility. President Nikos Christodoulides declared that "All foreign nationals who are in central Prisons and whose conviction does not concern serious crimes will be deported or returned to their countries of origin, and will be placed on the stop list to be banned from entering the Republic of Cyprus."
The current state of the Central Prison presents a stark picture, with a total of 1,120 individuals incarcerated. This figure comprises 521 Cypriots and 599 foreign nationals. Breaking down these numbers further, among the Cypriot inmates, 376 are convicted criminals, while 145 are awaiting trial as detained suspects. The foreign inmate population is even more substantial, with 378 convicted criminals and a significant 221 detained suspects currently in custody. This demographic imbalance and the sheer volume of prisoners have evidently prompted the government to seek robust solutions.
To this end, President Christodoulides has tasked the Attorney General and the Justice Minister with an immediate assessment of the current situation to facilitate the swift implementation of these measures. The plan encompasses not only the expulsion of foreign offenders but also the exploration of early release mechanisms for a total of 175 inmates convicted of minor infractions. Notably, a substantial portion of these potential early releases, approximately 100 individuals, are foreign nationals.
While the broad strokes of the policy have been outlined, specific details regarding the precise criteria for deportation, the applicable procedures, and the exact timeframe for implementation remain somewhat nebulous. The government's stated intention is to leverage deportations as a primary tool to achieve a substantial decrease in the number of prisoners. This strategy is underpinned by the expectation that removing foreign nationals with convictions for minor offences will have a tangible impact on the prison’s capacity.
However, the proposed policy is not without its potential complexities. Questions are already being raised regarding the legal ramifications for foreign inmates who may possess asylum status or subsidiary protection. Furthermore, concerns have been voiced about the implications for individuals originating from countries not currently classified as safe. The government has not yet clarified whether voluntary deportation would offer any incentives to foreign inmates, nor has it indicated whether similar early release benefits would be extended to Cypriot inmates convicted of comparable offences. Despite these unanswered questions, the government appears resolute in its determination to pursue this course of action, anticipating that these measures will contribute to a more manageable and less strained correctional system.