Kazakhstan sends delegation to UAE to discuss extradition

Kazakhstan’s delegation will go to the UAE to negotiate extradition of criminals, Tengrinews.kz reports citing first deputy General Prosecutor of Kazakhstan Iogan Merkel. “We will organize a visit of deputy Foreign Minister in the nearest time. He could be accompanied by Prosecutor General. I cannot give the details right now. But there definitely will be a visit to the United Arab Emirates, because there are over 10 (wanted) Kazakhstan citizen there right now,” Merkel told the journalists. “These are officials and businessmen who took part in the shared-equity construction,” he said. Merkel confirmed that these criminals include former head of Kazakhstan Statistics Agency Anar Meshimbayev, who is currently in the UAE. According to Merkel, Kazakhstan has difficulty negotiating with European countries on extradition of criminals. EU countries follow their general conventions and Kazakhstan can only sign bilateral agreements. The first agreement was reached with Spain. Kazakhstan Senate ratified a bilateral convention on mutual legal support on criminal cases with Spain. “Indeed, the situation is difficult there, as we have already submitted three applications to the directorate of the European Council on joining those European conventions, but there is no positive answer yet. That’s why we are signing bilateral agreements. We have recently held serious negotiations with the Czech Republic and have agreed on signing of one of three agreements on legal support. We would like to work with Bulgaria, Slovenia, Italy and Germany. If they don’t let us join the said conventions, we will sign bilateral agreements, of course if the countries agree,” Merkel said. According to first deputy General Prosecutor of Kazakhstan, 158 Kazakhstan citizens are currently on the Interpol international wanted list. By Renat Tashkinbayev