The Treaty between Latvia and Russia on legal assistance and legal relations in civil, family and criminal matters was ratified on June 1 1993. However, this has long ceased to be in line with modern times and is in contradiction with the commitments made by Latvia in joining the European Union, which recommends abandoning these types of agreements, the Saeima press service reported.
Upon annulling the agreement, it will operate for a further six months from the date of entry into force of the law in question. Judicial cooperation will then take place on the basis of internationally binding instruments such as the Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal matters and the Hague Convention in Civil matters.
Previously, the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee had extensive discussions about the agreement concluded in 1993 with the Russian Federation. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, as well as lawyers, notaries and the Prosecutor General's Office said at the meeting of the Committee that cooperation with Russia is already difficult.
Whether or not this Treaty is in force, the authorities responsible will have to try to cooperate in the civil, family and criminal cases concerned.
