The number of prisoners and detainees rises because of the pandemic

Pandemia by COVID-19 has influenced smaller numbers of inmates and more detention cuts. The number has dropped by nearly 200 since the beginning of this virus in Kosovo.

By March 16th, when the Kosovo Judiciary Council made a decision to limit activity within the courts, these institutions have addressed only urgent issues and, as a result, were cancelled hearings that did not present urgency. While during 2020, over 970 people are awaiting the execution of the decision on the cut form.

Thus says Corresponding Service Director Nehat Thaci, who in an interview for Kosova Preress, also speaks of the lack of law that could house or suspend the provisional sentences.

For this the Kosovar Centre for the rehabilitation of Torture Survivors months ago has addressed the Commission for Legislation, as well as parliamentary group chiefs with the proposal to initiate legal changes in accelerated procedure in order to enable provisional release or amnesty to convicts at the time of pandemic.

“We currently have a decrease in prisoners, since Kosovo does not own a Law that can amnist or release, or suspend the provisional sentences, even though it has been the attempt of the presidency, the minister and parliamentary groups, and has failed to prosecute this law. Other actors have been activated, such as the Kusht and Presidency Freedom Panel. Thus, they have been very active and have managed to free up the Treaty for Freedom with Conditions some of the inmates. At the same time you know that even courts that have been working on reduced capabilities, and only emergency cases. That's why the number of prisoners and detainees has also dropped to an obvious extent, which has therefore facilitated our work and managed with them”, Thaci declared.

The ban on visits by family inmates Thaci says it has been challenging for the Correcting Service, as it has made their stay more difficult during these months at detention and detention centres in Kosovo.

“Zacon prisons have usually had the number of prisoners and detainees around 1650-1670, we behave usually. Now specifically, if I'm not wrong, all of today's statistics are 1423. Therefore, during this pandemic we have a decline in prisoners and pre-prisonors”, he adds.

According to him, there are two prisoners and 26 correctional officials who have been infected with coronarys so far, where 12 are still standing in proselytification.

As a result of increasing the number of cases with this pandemic, the Kosovo Correcting Service from July 11th has again halted visits for all prisoners.

Thaci shows that during this year there are about 970 people pending the execution of the decision.

“According to statistics during 2020, some 970 people are awaiting the execution of the decision. It means the final decision because of the final decision of the Court of Appeals or similar. So he estimates that even during the time of pandemic, the Court has done very well until he has managed to make 970 prison sentences that have not yet taken the form of a firm decision. So we wait, we are prepared to wait for the other” convicts, Thaci says of Kosovas.

Kosovo prison director Nehat Thaci says that despite budget cuts, some projects are working on realisation. He announces that the tender assessments are under way for the purchase of mattresses for 800 prisoners, as well as the construction of the poultry farm.