President Nazarbayev ratifies amendments into Baikonur lease agreement

Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed June 30 amendments into the Baikonur cosmodrome lease agreement, the President’s Press Service reported. Baikonur is the first and largest cosmodrome in the world. Located in Kazakhstan, it is rented out to Russia by 2050. Baikonur is closer to the Equator than other launch sites – a situation that facilitates geostationary orbit or orbits less inclined to reach the International Space Station (ISS). This privileged geographic placement enables the launch of more significant payloads. According to the amendments, in case Russian citizens working at Baikonur [and their family members] commit unlawful acts against Russia, they will be dealt with as provided for within the Russia’s jurisdiction. In all other cases they are under the jurisdiction of Kazakhstan. The protocol had been signed in Almaty February 20, 2008. The Kazakhstan’s Parliament ratified the amendments June 9. Russia has been renting the cosmodrome since 1994.