As of January 2026, the State Archives in Cyprus will be transferred from the Ministry of Justice and Public Order to the Deputy Ministry of Culture, following a decision approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday.
The State Archives was founded in 1972, then called Public Archive, and began operations in 1978. It was renamed the State Archives in 1991 and became a department under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order in 2019. Its primary mission is to provide services for overseeing and coordinating the management, selection, and preservation of archives produced by the public and broader public sectors.
In addition, it is responsible for maintaining, preserving, and securely storing public records and making them available to the public. The Archives also preserve older documents of great historical significance, dating back to the 19th century, which are accessible to the academic community for research purposes.
Given the close connection between the responsibilities of the State Archives and those of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, the Minister of Justice and the Deputy Minister of Culture agreed to transfer the State Archives to the Deputy Ministry of Culture, a press release issued by the Deputy Ministry said. It is noted that this move will not result in any additional cost to the state budget.
Commenting on the decision, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Vasiliki Kassianidou, emphasized that the State Archives is a crucial institution aimed not only at administrative functions but also at highlighting the importance of archives and assisting research on Cyprus’ modern and contemporary history. Its primary goal is to safeguard the historical memory of Cyprus, which is an integral part of the country’s culture. She added that the State Archives’ natural home is within the Ministry of Culture, where it can grow and collaborate with related departments, she added.
On his part, the Minister of Justice, Marios Hartsiotis, welcomed the transfer, noting that after an agreement with the Deputy Ministry of Culture, it was decided that the State Archives’ responsibilities are more closely aligned with the Ministry of Culture.
The transfer will take place on January 1, 2026, after the necessary legal amendments and budget adjustments are made.
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Source: CNA
