Iran and Spain to start extradition of Kazakhstan citizens

Kazakhstan President signed laws ratifying the Agreements on extradition between Kazakhstan and Iran and between Kazakhstan and Spain, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Nursultan Nazarbayev’s press-service. Kazakhstan’s deputy General Prosecutor Iogan Merkel said during the presentation of the Law On ratification of the Convention between Kazakhstan and Spain on mutual legal support on criminal cases that the document was the first agreement on extradition reached with a European country. According to Merkel, Kazakhstan had problems with extradition of its criminals from European countries. The EU countries follow their general conventions and Astana is forced to sign bilateral agreements. The plan is to sign similar agreements with Bulgaria, Slovenia, Italy and Germany. President also signed the Law On ratification of the Agreement on extradition between Kazakhstan and Iran. The agreement was reached during the visit of Kazakhstan General Prosecutor to Iran. According to the General Prosecutor’s office, there are currently 158 Kazakhstan citizens on the Interpol’s wanted list. Earlier Kazakhstan ratified the agreement on extradition with the United Arab Emirates. Negotiations are currently in process on extradition of 10 Kazakhstan citizens residing in the UAE, including former head of Kazakhstan Statistics Agency Anar Meshimbayeva.