The Senate of Russia has endorsed the agreement signed with Nicaragua relating to the extradition and transfer of prisoners so that they can serve their sentences in their countries of origin, a treaty in which both parties commit to "provide the maximum assistance possible" to make these transfers feasible.
In a note published on the website of the Upper Chamber, the senators emphasize that the ratification of this pact "is in the interest of Russia and will help increase the effectiveness of cooperation between the two States in the fight against crime".
The communiqué explains that the text aims "to establish an international legal framework for cooperation between Russia and Nicaragua on extradition matters". "Under the treaty, the parties will proceed to extradite, upon request, persons who are in their territory, either so that they are prosecuted or so that the sentence imposed on them for offenses subject to extradition is carried out.
The document itself specifies that the offenses subject to extradition are those which, according to the legislation of both parties, are punishable under criminal law and carry a minimum penalty of one year of imprisonment or a more severe sanction.
Nicaragua’s Parliament gave the go-ahead to this treaty in July, while the Lower House of Russia’s Parliament (the Duma) approved the initiative last October.