Kazakhstan Majilis ratifies migrant readmission agreement with Switzerland

Majilis, the lower Chamber of Kazakhstan’s Parliament, has approved the draft law “On Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and the Swiss Federal Council on readmission of persons residing without authorisation”, Tengrinews reports from the plenary meeting of the Majilis.

Kazakhstan and Switzerland signed the agreement on March 4, 2010 in the Swiss city of Bern. 

When introducing the draft law, Kazakhstan’s Vice Foreign Minister Yerlan Turgumbayev said that the agreement defined procedures of identification and readmission of persons who violate the conditions of entry and stay in either of the two countries. The persons who enter the country illegally or enter legally but stay after their visa or residence permit expires are subject to readmission.

According to the document, Kazakhstan and Switzerland also agree to strengthen their bilateral cooperation in combating illegal migration.

“This is a modern and progressive mechanism of returning (illegal) migrants conforming to the principles of humane migration and human rights,” the Vice Foreign Minister said.

He added that entry of the agreement into force was an essential condition for establishment of a visa-free regime between Kazakhstan and Switzerland for holders of diplomatic passports and later for holders of national passports.

According to Yerlan Turgumbayev, the country requesting readmission of its citizen covers all the expenses related to readmission of the person.

Reporting by Altynai Zhumzhumina, writing by Assel Satubaldina, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina