General articles are free for 24 hours after publish.
Laos and Russia Reach Consensus on Draft Treaty for Mutual Protection of Citizens
Laos and Russia have reached a consensus on a draft treaty concerning the mutual protection of citizens from both countries. This agreement is expected to strengthen the framework for legal cooperation between the two nations and complement existing cooperative mechanisms. Laos has shown a tendency to strengthen ties with Russia in recent years.
Delegations from the Lao PDR and the Russian Federation held bilateral negotiations via video conference on September 15, 2026, and reached consensus on the draft treaty concerning the mutual protection of citizens of the two countries. The Lao delegation was led by Mr. Khamphet Somvorachit, Deputy Head of the Supreme People’s Prosecutor’s Office, while the Russian delegation was led by Mr. Panferov Konstantin Yuryevich, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation. Representatives of relevant agencies from both sides also attended the negotiations. During the talks, both sides reviewed the draft treaty article by article, exchanged views on legal issues, refined terminology and discussed coordination mechanisms to ensure that the agreement is clear, balanced and practical to implement. The draft treaty comprises 19 articles covering the scope of application, definitions of protected persons and requests, non-interference in internal affairs, consideration of requests, immunities of state officials, central coordinating authorities, confidentiality, expenses, ratification, entry into force and termination. Both delegations expressed appreciation for the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Laos and Russia and for the support of relevant authorities in both countries during the preparation of the draft treaty. The agreement, once signed, ratified and brought into force, is expected to provide a legal framework for the mutual protection of citizens and strengthen cooperation between the relevant authorities of the two countries. It will complement the existing Extradition Treaty and Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Laos and Russia, contributing to a more comprehensive framework for bilateral legal and judicial cooperation. Separately, Laos also hosted the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in Vientiane during the same period, indicating engagement with the international community. Progress has also been noted in cooperation with Vietnam in the field of auditing. Source: KPL Laos News
Original source
KPL Laos News