Osmani is criticized for not using the right to pardon the prisoners

The possibility of the presidency to pardon the prisoners is being asked to be used. The chairman of KMDLNJ, Behxhet Shala, says that this would affect better behavior of prisoners and reduce the number of escapees. And this year is the third year in a row that the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has not pardoned any prisoners. In this institution from 2021 until today, the number of requests for pardon submitted by convicted persons is 469, according to the Kosovo Correctional Service.

Lawyers and representatives of human rights institutions are criticizing the president's non-use of the right to pardon prisoners.

According to the lawyer Ardian Bajraktari, the president has a number of pardon measures at her disposal that she can apply and which are foreseen by the law and the Constitution.

"Forgiveness in itself means complete or partial release from punishment, replacing the punishment with a milder punishment or parole. Also, they include the issue of redemption from the evidence of the convicted", said Bajraktari.

Even Behxhet Shala, chairman of the Commission for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms, criticizes the institution of the Presidency in terms of abstaining from this right that is offered to him.

Shala said that there are somewhere between 300 and 500 requests for forgiveness per year.

He said the exercise of this right by the president would push the prisoners to better behavior.

Shala considers the pardon a mercy from the state and that, according to him, this also affects the increase in the number of fugitives.

"For us as KMDLNJ, it is incomprehensible, unacceptable and not normal that among the 500 prisoners, for four years, over 2000 requests that there is not a single one who meets the conditions for pardon. We consider that there are many prisoners, convicts who meet the conditions for pardon without endangering the security situation", said Shala.

And this year is the third year in a row that the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has not pardoned any prisoners.

Regarding this issue, KOHA also requested a comment from the office of the president Vjosa Osmani, but did not receive a response on Sunday.

In Kosovo, since 2009, there is a Law on Forgiveness.