Verkhovna Rada ratifies agreement between Ukraine and Russia on readmission

On 23 September Ukraine’s parliament ratified the Agreement on Readmission between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Russian Federation. The Agreement was signed on 22 December 2006.

The Agreement is aimed at creating the legal conditions needed for coordination and cooperation on preventing and countering illegal migration, as well as human trafficking.

The task is to pass provisions ensuring readmission procedure making it possible to prevent, stop or uncover offences linked with illegal migration. Specific authority in this respect is given to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Administration of the State Border Guard Service.

As reported here, on 15 January the Verkhovna Rada ratified a readmission agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. This stipulates the procedure for identifying and safely returning people who do not fulfil the conditions set down for entry and stay on the territory of Ukraine or any of the member states of the EU.

The problems involved have aroused protest from some politicians and are discussed most recently here. At present the Russian Federation has not ratified the Agreement on Readmission with Ukraine.  We can only hope that today’s move by Ukraine’s Parliament will spur the State Duma to take a similar step.

Based on information at www.newsru.ua