Kazakhstan and Cyprus to Exchange Convicted Persons Under New Agreement

The Senate has approved a law ratifying an agreement between Kazakhstan and Cyprus on the mutual transfer of convicted individuals, Orda.kz reports.

The agreement, signed in Astana on March 25, 2024, aims to allow Kazakhstan's citizens convicted in Cyprus to return to Kazakhstan to serve the remainder of their sentences at home:

The parties agree to transfer individuals sentenced to imprisonment so they may continue serving their sentences in the state of their citizenship. 

A prisoner transfer can take place only if the following conditions are met:

• The convicted person gives voluntary consent
• The individual holds citizenship of either Kazakhstan or Cyprus
• The offense is recognized as a crime in both countries

A transfer request may be refused if:

• It poses a threat to sovereignty, national security, or public order
• The convicted person has not paid court-ordered damages
• The individual is still under investigation or being prosecuted in the country where the sentence was issued

Kazakhstan has signed similar agreements in the past, including one with Qatar.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova