TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 13046
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MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Treaty Between the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
and the RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Signed at Moscow June 17, 1999
with
Related Notes
NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966
(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—
“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued
under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent
evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than
treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and
international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be,
therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime
jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the
United States, and of the several States, without any further proof
or authentication thereof.”
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty signed at Moscow June 17, 1999;
Transmitted by the President of the United States of America
to the Senate February 10, 2000 (Treaty Doc. 106-22,
106th Congress, 2d Session);
Reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
December 12, 2001 (Senate Executive Report No. 107-3,
107th Congress, 1st Session);
Advice and consent to ratification by the Senate
December 19, 2001;
Ratified by the President January 18, 2002;
Ratified by the Russian Federation November 3, 2000;
Ratifications exchanged at Washington January 31, 2002;
Entered into force January 31, 2002.
With related notes.
TREATY BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND
THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
ON
MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS
The United States of America and the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as
"the Parties"), Striving to broaden and deepen American-Russian cooperation to prevent and fight
against crime, and Reaffirming their determination to enhance legal assistance in criminal matters,
Have agreed as follows:
GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. The Parties shall provide to each other, in accordance with this Treaty, comprehensive mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
2. For the purposes of this Treaty, legal assistance in criminal matters shall mean any assistance provided by the Parties in connection with: prevention, suppression, and investigation of crimes; criminal prosecutions; and other proceedings related to such criminal matters.
3. Legal assistance shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty where the conduct that is the subject of the request constitutes a crime under the laws of both Parties. The Requested Party may, in its discretion, also provide legal assistance where the conduct that is the subject of the request would not constitute a crime under the laws of the Requested Party.
4. This Treaty is intended solely for cooperation and legal assistance between the Parties. The provisions of this Treaty shall not give rise to a right on the part of any other persons to obtain evidence, to have evidence excluded, or to impede the execution of a request.
5. For purposes of this Treaty, the term "person" shall mean both individuals and legal entities in the following articles: Article 1(4), Article 2(4), Article 5(3) sub paragraphs 1-5, Article 10(1), Article 14, and Article 15(2).
ARTICLE 2
SCOPE OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Legal assistance under this Treaty shall include:
(1) obtaining testimony and statements;
(2) providing documents, records, and other items;
(3) serving documents;
(4) locating and identifying persons and items;
(5) executing requests for searches and seizures;
(6) transferring persons in custody for testimony or other purposes under this Treaty;
(7) locating and immobilizing assets for purposes of forfeiture, restitution, or collection of fines; and
(8) providing any other legal assistance not prohibited by the laws of the Requested Party.
ARTICLE 3
CENTRAL AUTHORITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMMUNICATIONS
1. Each Party shall implement the provisions of this Treaty, including the making and
receiving of requests, through its Central Authority.
2. For the United States of America, the Central Authority shall be the Attorney
General or persons designated by the Attorney General. For the Russian Federation, the
Central Authority shall be the Office of the Procurator General of the Russian Federation
or persons designated by the Procurator General.
3. The Central Authorities shall communicate directly with one another for the
purposes of this Treaty and may agree upon such practical measures as may be necessary
to facilitate the implementation of this Treaty.
ARTICLE 4
DENIAL OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE
1. The Central Authority of the Requested Party may deny legal assistance if:
(1) the request relates to a crime under military law that is not a crime under general criminal
law;
(2) the execution of the request would prejudice the security or other essential interests of the Requested Party; or
(3) the request does not conform to the requirements of this Treaty.
2. The Requested Party shall not decline execution of a request on the ground of bank secrecy.
3. Before denying legal assistance pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article, the Central
Authority of the Requested Party shall consult with the Central Authority of the
Requesting Party to consider whether legal assistance can be given subject to such
conditions as it deems necessary. If the Requesting Party accepts legal assistance subject
to these conditions, it shall comply with the conditions.
4. If the Central Authority of the Requested Party denies legal assistance, it shall
inform the Central Authority of the Requesting Party of the reasons for the denial
ARTICLE 5
FORM AND CONTENTS OF REQUESTS FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE
1. A request for legal assistance shall be in writing, but in urgent situations the Central Authority of the Requested Party may accept a request in another form. If the request is not in writing, the request shall be confirmed in writing within ten days of its receipt by the Requested Party unless the Central Authority of the Requested Party agrees otherwise.
2. The request shall include:
(1) the identity of the authority on whose behalf the request is made;
(2) a description of the facts and circumstances of the case;
(3) the text of the law under which the conduct constitutes a crime;
(4) a description of the legal assistance sought; and
(5) a statement of the purpose for which the legal assistance is sought.
3. To the extent necessary and possible, a request shall also include:
(1) information on the identity and suspected location of a person to be located;
(2) information on the identity and location of a person to be served, that person's relationship to the proceeding, and the manner in which service is to be made;
(3) information on the identity and location of a person from whom evidence is sought;
(4) a list of questions to be asked of a person identified in the request;
(5) a precise description of the place or person to be searched and of the item to be seized;
(6) a description of procedures for the execution of the request;
(7) information as to the allowances and expenses to which a person asked to appear in the
territory of the Requesting Party will be entitled; and
(8) any other information that may be brought to the attention of the Central Authority of the
Requested Party to facilitate the execution of the request.
4. The request shall be prepared and signed in accordance with the regulations of the
Requesting Party.
ARTICLE 6
LANGUAGE
Except as otherwise agreed by the Central Authorities of the Parties, requests for legal assistance and documents attached thereto shall be accompanied by a translation thine to language of the Requested Party.
ARTICLE 7
EXECUTION OF REQUESTS
1. The Central Authority of the Requested Party shall promptly execute the request or shall transmit it to the authority having jurisdiction to do so. The competent authorities of the Requested Party shall do everything in their power to execute the request in a timely manner.
2. The Central Authority of the Requested Party shall represent the interests of the Requesting Party in executing the request.
3. Requests shall be executed in accordance with the laws of the Requested Party except if this Treaty provides otherwise. The competent authorities of the Requested Party shall have the authority to issue subpoenas, search warrants, or other orders necessary for the execution of requests. Except if prohibited by its laws, the Requested Party shall follow procedures specified in the request
4. If the Central Authority of the Requested Party considers that execution of a request will interfere with a criminal investigation, criminal prosecution, or proceeding related to a criminal matter ongoing in that State, it may postpone execution, or make execution subject to conditions determined to be necessary after consultations with the Central Authority of the Requesting Party. If the Requesting Party accepts the legal assistance subject to these conditions, it shall comply with the conditions.
5. The Requested Party shall use its best efforts to keep confidential a request and its contents if so requested by the Central Authority of the Requesting Party. If execution of the request would require a breach of this confidentiality, the Central Authority of the Requested Party shall so inform the Central Authority of the Requesting Party, which shall then determine whether the request should be executed under such circumstances.
6. The Central Authority of the Requested Party shall respond to inquiries by the Central Authority of the Requesting Party concerning progress toward execution of the request.
7. Upon request of the Central Authority of the Requesting Party, the Central Authority of the Requested Party shall furnish information in advance about the date and place of the execution of a request. During the execution of a request, the Requested Party shall permit the presence of such persons as are specified therein.
8. The Central Authority of the Requested Party shall promptly inform the Central Authority of the Requesting Party of the outcome of the execution of the request. If the request is not executed, or if execution is delayed or postponed, the Central Authority of the Requested Party shall inform the Central Authority of the Requesting Party of the reasons for non-execution, delay, or postponement
ARTICLE 8
COSTS
1. The Requested Party shall pay all costs relating to the execution of the request, except that the Requesting Party shall pay for the fees of experts, the costs of translation, interpretation, and transcription, and the allowances and expenses related to travel of persons pursuant to Articles 11 and 12 of this Treaty.
2. If it becomes apparent that the execution of the request requires expenses of an extraordinary nature, the Central Authorities of the Parties shall consult to determine the terms and conditions under which the requested legal assistance can be provided.
ARTICLE 9
LIMITATIONS ON USE
OF THE RESULTS OF EXECUTED REQUESTS
1. The Central Authority of the Requested Party may require that the Requesting Party not use the results of the execution of a request obtained under this Treaty for purposes other than those described in the request without the prior consent of the Central Authority of the Requested Party. In such cases, the Requesting Party shall comply with such limitations on use of the results of the executed request
2. Nothing in this Article shall preclude the use or disclosure of the results of an executed request to the extent that there is an obligation to do so under the Constitution of the Requesting Party in a criminal prosecution. The Central Authority of the Requesting Party shall notify the Central Authority of the Requested Party in advance of any such possible or proposed use or disclosure.
3. The results of an executed request that have been used for the purpose for which they were provided and, in the course of such use, have been made public in the Requesting Party in accordance with this Treaty may thereafter be used for any purpose.
ARTICLE 10
OBTAINING TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE IN
THE REQUESTED PARTY
1. A person requested to testify and produce documents, records, or items in the Requested Party shall be summoned, if necessary by subpoena or order, to appear and testify and produce such documents, records, or items, in accordance with the requirements of the law of the Requested Party.
2. In accordance with procedures used in the Requested Party, persons present at the execution of a request shall be permitted to pose questions directly or to formulate questions that shall be posed to the person being questioned, and to make a verbatim transcript of the proceeding using, if necessary, technical means.
3. If the person referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article asserts a claim of immunity, incapacity, or privilege under the laws of the Requesting Party, the evidence shall nonetheless be taken and the claim made known to the Requesting Party for resolution by the authorities of the Requesting Party.
ARTICLE 11
OBTAINING TESTIMONY IN
THE REQUESTING PARTY
1. When the Requesting Party requests the appearance of a person in its territory, the Requested Party shall invite the person to appear before the appropriate authority in the Requesting Party. The Requesting Party shall indicate the extent to which the expenses and allowances will be paid. The Central Authority of the Requested Party shall promptly inform the Central Authority of the Requesting Party of the response of the person. A person who agrees to appear may ask that the Requesting Party advance money to cover these expenses. This advance may be provided through the Embassy or a consulate of the Requesting Party.
2. A person appearing in the Requesting Party pursuant to this Article shall not be subject to service of process, or be detained or subjected to any restriction of personal liberty, by reason of any acts or convictions that preceded the person's departure from the Requested Party. If such guarantee cannot be provided for any reason, the Central Authority of the Requesting Party shall indicate this in the request in order to inform the invited person and to allow that person to decide whether to appear taking these circumstances into account.
3. The safe conduct provided for by this Article shall cease seven days after the Central Authority of the Requesting Party has notified the Central Authority of the Requested Party that the person's presence is no longer required, or if the person has left the Requesting Party and voluntarily returned to it. The Central Authority of the Requesting Party may, in its discretion, extend this period up to fifteen days if it determines that there is good cause to do so.
ARTICLE 12
TRANSFER OF PERSONS
IN CUSTODY
1. A person in the custody of either Party whose presence in the other Party is sought for purposes of legal assistance under this Treaty shall be transferred from the sending Party to the receiving Party for that purpose if the person consents and if the Central Authorities of both Parties agree.
2. For the purposes of this Article:
(1) the receiving Party shall have authority and the obligation to keep person transferred in
custody unless otherwise authorized by the sending Party;
(2) the receiving Party shall return the person transferred to the custody of the sending Party as soon as circumstances permit or as otherwise agreed by both Central Authorities;
(3) the receiving Party shall not require the sending Party to initiate extradition proceedings for the return of the person transferred;
(4) the person transferred shall receive credit for service of the sentence imposed in the sending Party for time served in the custody of the receiving Party; and
(5) where the sentence imposed expires, or where the sending Party advises the receiving Party that the transferred person is no longer required to be held in custody, that person shall be treated as a person invited pursuant to Article 11 or returned to the sending Party.
ARTICLE 13
PRODUCTION OF OFFICIAL RECORDS
1. Upon request, the Requested Party shall provide the Requesting Party with copies
of publicly available records, including documents or information of any nature and in
any form in the possession of an executive, legislative, or judicial authority in the
Requested Party.
2. The Requested Party may provide copies of any records, including documents or
information of any nature and in any form that are in the possession of an executive,
legislative, or judicial authority in that Party, but that are not publicly available, but only
to the same extent and under the same conditions as such records would be available to
the competent authorities of that Party. The Requested Party may in its discretion deny a
request pursuant to this paragraph entirely or in part.
ARTICLE 14
LOCATION OR IDENTIFICATION OF
PERSONS AND ITEMS
If the Requesting Party seeks the location or identity of persons or information about items in the Requested Party, the Requested Party shall use its best efforts to execute the request.
ARTICLE 15
SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS
1. The Requested Party shall use its best efforts to effect service of documents pursuant to a request.
2. The Requesting Party shall transmit any request for the service of a document requiring the appearance of a person before a competent authority in the Requesting Party a reasonable time before the scheduled appearance.
3. The Requested Party shall return to the Requesting Party a proof of service in the manner specified in the request.
ARTICLE 16
SEARCH AND SEIZURE
1. The Requested Party shall execute a request for the search, seizure, and transfer of any item to the Requesting Party if the request includes the information justifying such action under the laws of the Requested Party.
2. If requested, every official of the Requested Party who has had custody of a seized item shall certify the identity of the item, the continuity of its custody, and the integrity of its condition.
3. The Requested Party may require that the Requesting Party agree to the terms and conditions deemed necessary to protect third party interests in the item to be transferred.
ARTICLE 17
TRANSFER OF DOCUMENTS, RECORDS,
AND OTHER ITEMS
1. When a request for legal assistance concerns the transfer of documents or records, the Requested Party shall transfer true copies thereof, unless the Requesting Party expressly requests the originals, in which case the Requested Party shall make every effort to comply with the request.
2. Insofar as not prohibited by its laws, the Requested Party shall transfer documents, records, or other items in such manner or accompanied by such certification as may be requested by the Requesting Party in order to make them admissible according to the law of the Requesting Party. For this purpose, the Central Authorities of the Parties shall exchange information pursuant to Article 3(3) with respect to the requirements for admissibility in their respective legal systems. Documents, records, and other items transferred as requested under this paragraph shall require no further certification to make them admissible.
3. The Central Authority of the Requested Party may require that the Central Authority of the Requesting Party return, as soon as possible, any documents, records, or other items furnished to it in execution of a request under this Treaty.
ARTICLE 18
PROCEEDS AND INSTRUMENTALITIES
OF CRIME
1. The Parties, in accordance with their laws, shall assist each other in locating, immobilizing, and seizing proceeds, including earnings from, or that are the result of, criminal activities, as well as instrumentalities of crime, for the purpose of: forfeiture; restitution to victims of crime; and collection of fines imposed pursuant to judicial decisions in criminal matters.
2. If the Central Authority of one Party becomes aware that proceeds and instrumentalities of crime that may be subject to forfeiture are located in the territory of the other Party, it may so inform the Central Authority of the other Party so that the other Party may take appropriate measures under paragraph 3 of this Article. The Central Authority receiving the information shall notify the Central Authority providing the information of the action taken.
3. The Party that has immobilized, seized, or forfeited the proceeds and instrumentalities of crime shall dispose of them in accordance with its laws. That Party shall transfer all or part of such assets, or the proceeds of their sale, to the other Party, including for the purpose of forfeiture and restitution (which includes returning them to the rightful owner) insofar as permitted by its laws and to the extent it deems it appropriate and within the time frame and under the conditions it deems acceptable.
ARTICLE 19
CONSULTATION
The Central Authorities shall consult, at times mutually agreed to by them, to promote the most effective use of this Treaty.
ARTICLE 20
SCOPE OF APPLICATION
This Treaty shall apply to any requests presented after its entry into force even if the relevant acts or omissions occurred before that date.
ARTICLE 21
OTHER LEGAL BASES FOR COOPERATION
The provisions in this Treaty shall not prevent either of the Parties from
cooperating and from granting legal assistance in accordance with the provisions of other
applicable international treaties and agreements, national laws, and practices.
ARTICLE 22
ENTRY INTO FORCE AND TERMINATION
1. This Treaty shall be subject to ratification, and shall enter into force upon the exchange of the instruments of ratification, which shall take place as soon as possible.
2. Upon entry into force of this Treaty, the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in Criminal Matters, signed on June 30, 1995, shall no longer be in force.
3. Either Party may terminate this Treaty by means of written notice to the other Party through the diplomatic channel. Termination shall take effect six months following the date of receipt of such notification.
DONE at Moscow, this 17th day of June, 1999, in duplicate,
in the English and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION:
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