Prisoner transfer agreement with India could enter into effect in March
The agreement on the transfer of convicted persons between Estonia and India ratified by the Riigikogu last Wednesday and signed into law by the president on Thursday could enter into effect as soon as March 1.
The ratification act was published in the official gazette Riigi Teataja on Feb. 25 and entered into force the next day, Feb. 26. The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs can now send a respective note to India.
As the accord will enter into force after the last party to the agreement has given notification of the completion of domestic procedures, it was essential to complete the ratification process in Estonia before the end of February in order for it to enter into force on March 1.
BNS has learned that the Estonian ministry is ready to forward the note to India on Monday already. India had ratified the agreement earlier and informed Estonia on Jan. 12 that it was prepared to implement it, spokespeople for the ministry told BNS last week.
On Nov. 15 last year, Estonia and India signed an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons whereby Indian and Estonian citizens sentenced to prison in the other country can serve their sentences in their home country. The agreement can be applied only after a sentence has taken effect, however, which means that it cannot be applied to persons appealing their sentences.
Editor: Aili Vahtla
Source: BNS