Pristina, October 7th, 2025 – The Ombudsperson, in order to clarify the situation that has been circulating recently in the media regarding the expiration of the mandate of the Ombudsperson and the deputies of the Ombudsperson, informs the public that according to the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, the Ombudsperson is elected by the Assembly of Kosovo, for a five (5) year mandate, without the right to re-election (Article 134, paragraph 1).

Furthermore, the Ombudsperson emphasizes Law No. 05/L-019 on the Ombudsperson, respectively Article 14, paragraph 3, according to which it is determined that: “In the event of the end of the mandate, the Ombudsperson or his/her deputy shall exercise his/her function until the election of the new Ombudsperson, respectively the new deputy.”

Referring to international standards regarding institutions for the protection of freedoms and human rights, the Ombudsperson emphasises that according to these standards, in order to exercise the protection of freedoms and human rights as effectively as possible, the leaders of these institutions will exercise their function even after the expiration of their mandate, until the election of new leaders.

Therefore, taking into account the constitutional and legal basis as well as international standards, the Ombudsperson informs you that the Ombudsperson whose mandate expired at the end of September 2025, and the deputies of the Ombudsperson, whose mandate expired in June 2025, will continue to exercise their function with full powers, until the election of the Ombudsperson, respectively the deputies of the Ombudsperson, by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo.