The State Duma approved the protocol to the European Convention on the Extradition of Criminals

The State Duma has ratified the fourth additional protocol to the European Convention on the Extradition of Criminals, TASS reports .

The document was signed on February 24, 2015 in Strasbourg. The Protocol provides for amendments and additions to several provisions of the European Convention on Extradition.

This is done “with the aim of adapting it to modern requirements in the implementation of international cooperation in the field of extradition of persons in respect of whom the competent authorities of the requesting party are carrying out legal proceedings in connection with any crime or who are wanted by these authorities to carry out the sentence.”

In addition, the Protocol deals with issues of statute of limitations, procedures for transit and extradition to a third state. A number of provisions of the document are aimed at simplifying the procedure for drafting and sending requests for the extradition and transit of an extradited person.

The accompanying documents explain that “the implementation of the protocol will further improve international cooperation in the field of extradition”.

Earlier on Friday, it became known about the possible extradition by Turkey to Russia of suspects in the attack on the Russian SU-24 aircraft, shot down in November 2015 on the Syrian-Turkish border. The State Duma previously ratified an agreement with Turkey on extradition and criminal cases. The document was signed in Ankara on December 1, 2014.

Prepared by Yulia Sukhanova