PHL, Russia Hold Discussions on Extradition, Mutual Legal Assistance and Transfer of Sentenced Persons
From left: Yury Anufriev, Deputy Chief for the Division on International Treaties and Vladimir Khrisanov, Deputy Director of the Department for International Law and Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta, and Vice Consul Luningning Camoying.
Photo by C. Narvaez-Bondad.
09 March 2017 MOSCOW - Yury Anufriev, Deputy Chief for the Division on International Treaties, and Vladimir Khrisanov, Deputy Director of the Department for International Law and Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) met with Philippine Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta and Vice-Consul Luningning Camoying at the Philippine Embassy in Moscow on March 09 to informally discuss pending agreements on extradition, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and transfer of sentenced persons. During the meeting, both sides clarified certain provisions, definitions and procedures provided for in the agreements.
“While the discussions were preliminary and informal, it resulted to a better understanding of each of the two countries’ legal systems, legal terms and criminal procedures which are likely to help future formal negotiations,” Ambassador Sorreta said. Formal negotiations will be held in April where officials from the Department of Justice (DoJ) will meet their Russian counterparts and finalize these agreements.
“The extradition treaty and the mutual legal assistance treaty in criminal matters strengthen both our abilities to fight crime and make the world much smaller for criminals. The transfer of sentenced persons agreement has an important humanitarian dimension that will allow sentenced persons to serve out their sentence in their home country,” Ambassador Sorreta explained.
The Philippines and Russia have been exchanging drafts on these agreement through diplomatic channels and Ambassador Sorreta is confident that the coming formal negotiations will bring both countries closer to signing said agreements. END