Ukrainian parliament ratifies Convention on Extradition

The Verkhovna Rada ratified the Convention on Extradition.

This is stated on the website of the parliament.

305 People's Deputies voted for the relevant law "On Ukraine's Accession to the Convention on Extradition" (No. 0158).

Thus, the document ratification will allow Ukraine to become a state party to the Convention on Extradition and will create legal grounds for cooperation with the competent authorities of the state parties. It will concern the extradition of persons who, trying to avoid responsibility for the committed crimes, are hiding in the territory of one of the convention states with the purpose of criminal prosecution or execution of the sentence.

States parties to the Convention are the Argentine Republic, the Republic of Chile, the Republic of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of Ecuador, the Republic of El Salvador, the Republic of Guatemala, the Republic of Honduras, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the United States of Mexico, the Republic of Nicaragua, the Republic of Panama and the United States of America.

The document establishes, in particular, the obligation of the Convention member states to extradite persons who may be in their territories and who are accused or convicted and to initiate proceedings against the person in case they refuse extradition on the grounds of citizenship. At the same time, it is noted that Ukraine will not extradite its citizens to another state.

In addition, it's assumed that Ukraine may refuse to extradite a person if there are reasonable grounds to believe that extradition contradicts the interests of Ukraine's national security.

Ukraine will request extradition through the Office of the Prosecutor General (during a pre-trial investigation) and the Ministry of Justice (during court proceedings or the execution of a sentence).

The Convention enters into force for each signatory state thirty days after depositing the relevant instrument of ratification.

Reference

The extradition convention was concluded in Montevideo, Republic of Uruguay, on December 26, 1933.