When will the Danish prisoners be placed in the Gjilan prison?

The cooperation agreement for prisons is expected to be signed soon between Kosovo and Denmark. After that, there is a two-year deadline for the country's institutions to adapt the Gjilan prison to Danish rules. The Director of the Correctional Service of Kosovo, Ismail Dibrani, declares that 100 prisoners will be accepted at first.

In December 2021, the two states have signed a letter of consent for sending 300 prisoners from the Danish state to the Gjilan prison. Later, in May 2024, the Assembly of Kosovo ratified the agreement which leases the prison to the Danish state.

The director of prisons in Kosovo says that the signing of the cooperation agreement between the two countries is expected soon.

"From the moment the cooperation agreement is signed, which is expected to be signed very soon, we have 18 to 24 months to adapt the prison to Danish rules. Initially, 100 prisoners will be accepted, then depending on the plan of renovation, adaptation of the prison according to Danish rules, other prisoners will be accepted, and the number will exceed the number of 300 people", declares Dibrani.

The treaty, with a duration of 10 years, foresees that Kosovo will benefit about 200 million euros which, among other things, will be destined for the Correctional Service. Dibrani informs that there have been requests from Belgium and Great Britain for such agreements.

"There have been requests from both Belgium and Great Britain, but of course we have no interest and we will not agree to sign such agreements. Although fortunately compared to other countries, almost all European countries where overpopulation is the main problem today, when we are talking today, the capacity in our prisons is over 2.700. While, in our centers, in our 11 correctional institutions, we have 1.750 people. 1.100 convicts and 650 others are in custody", he says.