The first prisoners from Denmark are expected to be transferred to Kosovo in the autumn of 2027, according to Ismail Dibrani, Director of the Kosovo Correctional Service.
Speaking to KosovaPress, Dibrani confirmed that training has already begun for the first group of correctional staff, who will operate under Danish prison system regulations at the facility designated for the transferred inmates.
Staff Training and Institutional Cooperation
Dibrani explained that technical teams from Kosovo and Denmark are working closely together, following the establishment of two joint steering committees, tasked with drafting operational plans for the prison.
“It is in the autumn of 2027 that the first prisoners from the Danish state will be admitted,” Dibrani said. “Staff training has already begun, as the Danish internal prison regulations will be applied. Most of the personnel working at this facility will be trained in Denmark according to Danish prison system standards.”
He added that best practices from the Danish correctional system will be adopted and, where compatible with Kosovo’s legislation, implemented across other correctional institutions in Kosovo.
No Plans for Agreements with Other States
The director emphasized that Kosovo has no interest in signing similar agreements with other countries for the transfer of prisoners.
Security and Eligibility Criteria
According to Dibrani, the facility will not house high-risk inmates, including:
- Individuals convicted of terrorism
- Prisoners with severe mental health conditions
- Inmates assessed as posing very high security risks
He also addressed efforts to prevent contraband within prisons, acknowledging that there have been cases involving correctional officers, which authorities are actively addressing.
Leadership Appointments and Budget
Dibrani announced that Rasim Selmani has been appointed as the new director of the Gjilan prison, and confirmed that a Danish national has been selected as the prison’s governor.
Meanwhile, Kosovo’s draft budget for the coming year allocates approximately €8 million in capital investments for the Kosovo Correctional Service.
