The Ministry of Justice has established a working group to examine a draft extradition treaty with Russia, the latest step in a process that could ultimately see prominent fugitives deported, a ministry spokesman said yesterday.
According to spokesman Chin Malin, the draft treaty has arleady been passed between Russian and Cambodian officials “many times”.
“The group has … exchanged the draft of the treaty with the Russians many times already, but we have yet to conclude [the negotiations],” he said.
The drafting of Cambodia’s first extradition treaty with Russia comes two weeks after Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow on March 4.
High on the agenda is the deportation of fugitive tycoon Sergei Polonsky, who is wanted in Russia on charges of real estate fraud.
“We have never had an extradition treaty before, so we need to look closely at it before we can send any Russians, including Polonsky, back to face charges,” Malin added.
Lavrov said a final meeting of experts would be held this month before the accord could be signed.
