Kosovo is expected to begin receiving Danish prisoners in 2027 under an agreement between the two countries that provides for the transfer of 300 inmates to the correctional facility in Gjilan.
The implementation of the agreement was discussed at an international conference in Prishtina titled “Implementation of the Kosovo-Denmark Agreement on the Transfer of Prisoners to Kosovo: Legal Challenges, Human Rights and Operational Issues,” organized by the Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT).
KRCT Executive Director Feride Rushiti said the agreement entered into force in June 2024 and provides for 300 prisoners from Denmark to be transferred to the facility in Gjilan.
“We are facing a new reality. This agreement entered into force in June 2024. Under its terms, 300 prisoners are to be transferred from Denmark to the prison in Gjilan. Kosovo will therefore host 300 Danish prisoners at the correctional facility in Gjilan,” Rushiti said.
She added that implementation had begun, but the physical transfer of prisoners was expected to start in 2027.
First Deputy Minister of Justice Genc Nimoni said implementing the agreement would require more than simply putting a correctional institution into operation. It would also involve preparing the necessary infrastructure, recruiting and training professional staff, and establishing effective organizational arrangements.
“The agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and the Kingdom of Denmark on the use of the correctional institution in Gjilan to serve Danish sentences represents an ongoing commitment by both countries. Its ratification by the Kosovo Assembly established the basis for cooperation,” Nimoni said.
He stressed that preparations must ensure that the facility is properly equipped and staffed, with human rights remaining a central priority throughout implementation.
The conference focused on the legal, human rights and operational challenges associated with the agreement, including the preparations required before the transfer of prisoners can begin.
The arrangement represents a significant form of cooperation between Kosovo and Denmark in the administration of prison sentences. Its implementation will depend on the readiness of the facility, the availability of qualified personnel and compliance with applicable legal and human rights standards.
