Jelena Gjukanoviq, a Serbian citizen and employee of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), is standing trial in Kosovo on serious espionage charges in a case that prosecutors say goes beyond individual wrongdoing and targets the stability and security of the state.
A hearing was held today at the Basic Court in Prishtina, where the Prosecution requested the maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, describing the case as one of the most serious threats to Kosovo’s national security.
According to the Prosecution, Gjukanoviq is suspected of acting in cooperation with another individual on behalf of Serbian intelligence services. She is alleged to have had access to sensitive information and high-level meetings with domestic and international officials, particularly in northern Kosovo, and to have passed classified information to Belgrade.
Investigators further claim that she transmitted sensitive data to the Serbian Security and Intelligence Agency (BIA), which prosecutors link to broader efforts of intelligence activity in Kosovo.
The case file reportedly includes communications described as coded messages, including a reference to a “thank you for work in Kosovo,” which prosecutors interpret as evidence of coordination with intelligence structures. The Prosecution argues these materials form key evidence of espionage activity, while the defense has strongly rejected all allegations as unfounded and unproven.
Gjukanoviq was arrested on 28 February 2025 at the Jarinje border crossing in northern Kosovo and has remained in detention since then. She is also suspected of cooperating with another individual who remains under investigation.
The case is being handled as part of counter-espionage efforts led by Kosovo’s intelligence and security institutions.
Under Kosovo’s Criminal Code, espionage is classified as a serious criminal offense punishable by a minimum of five years in prison. In this case, the Prosecution has requested the maximum sentence of 25 years, arguing that the alleged actions posed a direct attempt to undermine state institutions and destabilize the country.
The verdict is expected to be announced on 27 April 2026 at 13:15.
