Kazakh Senate Ratifies Extradition Treaty with Morocco to Boost Criminal Justice Cooperation

The Senate of Kazakhstan has approved the extradition treaty between Kazakhstan and Morocco, which was signed in Rabat on December 12, 2024.

The treaty is aimed at strengthening cooperation in criminal prosecution and the enforcement of court sentences, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The treaty outlines procedures for extraditing individuals accused or convicted of crimes, including:

Crimes punishable by at least one year in prison or more severe penalties.

Execution of court sentences with six months or more remaining.

Grounds for refusing extradition, such as political offenses, death penalty cases, or conflicts with national or international law.

The agreement does not allow extradition of the countries’ own citizens and sets out the roles of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan and Morocco’s Ministry of Justice as central authorities for cooperation.

The treaty also addresses expenses, dispute resolution, and procedural matters, and its implementation will not require additional funding, being covered by Kazakhstan’s existing national budget allocations.

Officials note that the treaty will enhance the prosecution of fugitives, protect Kazakh citizens abroad, and strengthen international criminal justice cooperation.

Previously, the Kazakh Senate also approved the Kazakhstan-Cyprus Agreement on Extradition of Convicted Persons, signaling a continued focus on expanding legal cooperation abroad.