inmates

Mobile phones, drugs found during Central Prisons cell search

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Mobile phones, drugs found during Central Prisons cell search

Prison guards discovered a mobile phone and drug-laced paper during a cell search at Central Prisons. The items, believed to be synthetic cannabinoids, were found divided into tear-off squares for smoking. This incident is the third of its kind, prompting investigations into how contraband materials are entering the facility. Additionally, individuals attempted to throw footballs containing mobile phones across the prison perimeter, but the attempts were unsuccessful.

From Latin America to the Mediterranean: Iberoamerican film festival returns

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From Latin America to the Mediterranean: Iberoamerican film festival returns

2nd Iberoamerican Film Festival is the second edition of the festival with Latin American film screenings. It is organized by the embassies of Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and Spain, in collaboration with Instituto Cervantes de Nicosia and The Friends of the Cinema Society. The festival will take place on May 21, 23, 28, 30, and June 4 at Cine Studio, University of Nicosia. All screenings will be shown in their original language with subtitles in English or Greek, and entry is free.

Prisoners , ‘scared for their safety’ anti-torture report finds

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Prisoners , ‘scared for their safety’ anti-torture report finds

The Nicosia central prisons in Cyprus are overcrowded, with some accommodation blocks operating at more than 300 percent of their design capacity. Prisoners are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor and urinate in bottles due to lack of access to toilets at night. The report also highlighted instances of violence against prisoners, including staff slapping prisoners and using wooden sticks to intimidate them. Additionally, there were concerns raised about racist behavior, inter-prisoner violence, and the development of informal prisoner hierarchies within the prison.

Phone blocking system for prisons delayed again

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Phone blocking system for prisons delayed again

A new system deactivating mobile phones in the immediate vicinity of the central prisons will be installed and operational in one-and-a-half years. The previous deactivation system had been problematic, and delays in implementation were caused by the emergence of 5G technology. Additionally, steps are being taken to alleviate overcrowding at the prisons, including the construction of a new building at the open prison site and a completely new prisons complex by 2027. Legislation concerning the functioning of the attorney-general’s office is also being drafted based on a study commissioned by the government.

60 inmates to be released early under Easter pardon

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60 inmates to be released early under Easter pardon

Approximately 60 inmates in Cyprus are set to be released early before Easter following a recommendation from the Attorney General and approval by the President. The Prison Directorate compiled a list of prisoners scheduled for release within two months, which was then submitted for presidential pardons. The pardons exclude individuals convicted of serious offenses such as drug trafficking, homicide, or sexual offenses, and those being released were serving short prison sentences. Both Cypriot and foreign nationals are among those being released.