Reuters: Kosovo prepares to house 300 prisoners from Denmark, human rights concerns raised

In a prison in eastern Kosovo, plans are under way to remove all local prisoners and open space for foreign prisoners to be transported by plane from Denmark, more than 2,000km away.

So begins the text of the prestigious medium “ about the agreement Denmark has made with Kosovo.

That state is expected to send 300 prisoners to the Balkan country, the first for Kosovo, and a move criticised by many Danish human rights experts.

As reports “Reuters”, the plans are that local prisoners will leave for replacement with other prisoners.

Kosovo's prison service will rebuild the Gjilan prison over the next two years according to Danish standards before accepting convicts from non-member countries of the European Union, who would be deported from Denmark after the sentence.

The first convicts are expected to be transferred within 21-25 months after the prison renovation begins, expected within a few weeks.

However, such an agreement is being criticized. The prison, built eight years ago, raises no human rights concerns, but the decision to house prisoners in Kosovo.

So said Theresa Rytter, legal director of “Dignity”, a Danish human rights organization.

There have been creditable abuse charges in the past. This does not mean that it will happen in Kosovo, but there is definitely an increase in risk compared to whether they would be in a Danish” prison, she has said.

“Reuters” also mentions the State Department's 2023 report, which says that although Kosovo prisons have affected some of the international standards, the violence among prisoners, corruption and inadequate treatment to convicts with mental health problems, it has continued.

The UN Committee against Torture in a report has said he is concerned about access to inmates in health care and family visits.

The point is that Kosovo, one of the poorest states in Europe, will benefit 210m euros in the next ten years.

The transfers, according to the Ministry of Justice in Denmark and Ismail Debrani, Kosovo prison director, are not convicted of terrorism and have no eternal sentences.

These incoming individuals are easily managed by our” system, Debrani said.

At the same time, the prison gender is not known.

Likewise, prison is expected to be managed by a Danish director with a local director, while all guards will be local. Kosovo Guardians will receive training from Danish authorities to ensure that the treatment of prisoners meets international human rights standards.

However, Danish human rights experts are not convinced.

“A two-month course does not change behavior”, Rytter said.