BAKU, Azerbaijan - President Ilham Aliyev has approved the Second Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, subject to Azerbaijan’s reservations and declarations.
Aliyev signed the order on Oct. 26, according to APA. The brief announcement did not publish the full text of Azerbaijan’s reservations and declarations.
The protocol was opened for signature in Strasbourg on Nov. 8, 2001, and supplements the 1959 European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. Its purpose is to modernize and broaden cooperation among participating states in criminal proceedings.
The Council of Europe Treaty Office identifies the document as Treaty No. 182. Its provisions address matters including the transmission of assistance requests, hearings by video conference, cross-border observations, controlled deliveries, covert investigations and joint investigation teams.
Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis considered the protocol during its autumn session. Report previously said lawmakers approved the measure together with the country’s reservations and declarations.
The practical scope of Azerbaijan’s participation will depend on those national conditions, the designated competent authorities and completion of the required international procedures. The presidential order approves the protocol domestically but the short official notice does not specify how individual mechanisms will be applied.
Sources: APA; Vesti Baku