Today on 15 December 2015 the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation held the meeting between the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Yury Chayka and the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Abkhazia Alexey Lomiya. The event was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation, as well as senior officials of the Prosecutor General’s Offices of both states.

Welcoming the guests, Mr. Chayka noted that Russia and Abkhazia have had long-standing friendly and warm relations, and with the signing in September 2008 of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Russia and Abkhazia, both states established the foundation for a broad and inclusive partnership for the benefit of the peoples of both states.

As stressed by the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, an important step towards the strengthening and development of cooperation between the Public Prosecutor’s Offices of Russia and Abkhazia in the sphere of protection of the rights and freedoms, combating crime was the signing of the agreement on cooperation between the Prosecutor General’s Offices of both states in October 2008.

For the purposes of its practical implementation, as well as implementation of the Bilateral Treaty on Alliance and Strategic Partnership, the participants of the meeting signed the Program of Cooperation between the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation and the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Abkhazia for 2016 – 2018.

The Program provides for holding of a series of workshops, round tables and exchange of information on the main directions of activity of bodies and organizations of the Public Prosecutor’s Offices of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia, as well as on the priorities of the state policy in the development and implementation of which they are participating.

Thus in 2016 the participants of the Program are planning to hold workshops on topical issues of cooperation in the sphere of extradition and rendering legal assistance in criminal matters, as well as exchange of experience on organization of the prosecutorial supervision over execution of legislation in the sphere of economy.

In 2017 it is expected to discuss issues of organization and implementation of prosecutorial supervision over investigation of criminal cases on corruption offences, their prevention, including in the prosecution bodies, as well as to analyze the legislation on combating corruption. In addition, the Program participants will exchange experience in the organization of supervision over implementation of laws by the bodies exercising investigative activity, inquiry and preliminary investigation.

In 2018 the participants of the Program plan to hold workshops on the organization of supervision over implementation of laws in the course of activities of bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government and ensuring the participation of prosecutors in consideration of criminal cases by the courts. In addition, representatives of the Public Prosecutor’s Offices of both states will hold a round table on the topic of organizing the participation of public prosecutors in consideration by the courts of civil and arbitration cases and cases on administrative offenses.

Mr. Chayka noted that the activities provided for by the Program are aimed at strengthening and development of mutual cooperation in the sphere of protection of human rights and the fight against crime. Its implementation will promote the development of more coordinated approaches to addressing of our main tasks – to ensure the rule of law, protection of the rights of citizens, interests of society and the state.

In turn, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Abkhazia Mr. Lomiya thanked Mr. Chayka for the reception and noted the importance and timeliness of signing of the Program of Cooperation.

In conclusion the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation confirmed strong focus for continuation of fruitful cooperation between the Public Prosecutor’s Offices of Russia and Abkhazia.