Lithuania, India to sign extradition pact

Under the treaty, persons will be extradited in cases of “attempting to escape justice after committing a crime in the other country or hiding from an imposed penalty,” Audris Kutrevičius, spokesman for the Justice Ministry, told BNS.

“The treaty stipulates that extradition of citizens is impossible. Lithuania will not extradite Lithuanian citizens to India and India will not extradite Indian citizens to Lithuania,” said Kutrevičius.

Endorsed by India’s government earlier this week, the extradition treaty will be signed in Delhi next Monday by India’s External Relations Minister Sushma Swaraj and Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius.

The Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office in charge of extradition says that there have been no cases so far when Lithuania would have to turn to India for extradition of a person for criminal prosecution.

“In light of the fact that more and more people travel to faraway countries, (the Prosecutor General’s Office) sees signing of the treaty as needed and well-timed,” Elena Martinonienė, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General’s Office, told BNS.

So far, Lithuania has extradition treaties with the United States and China. Extradition issues are envisaged in legal cooperation treaties with seven more countries.

Within the European Union (EU), offenders are extradited under the European Arrest Warrant, as an order issued by a judicial institution of one nation is valid throughout the community.

On Monday, the Lithuanian and Indian diplomacy chiefs will also sign a treaty on air communication.