Indonesia-Russia Advance Legal Cooperation with Information Exchange Agreement

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Russia have taken another step toward strengthening judicial collaboration, signing a new agreement on the exchange of legal information in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

The accord was formalized by Indonesian Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas and Russian Prosecutor General Aleksandr V. Gutsan, marking a practical extension of the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) treaty signed six years ago.

Minister Supratman explained that the cooperation covers information sharing, data access, joint research, and expert exchanges in the legal field. “This is a technical implementation following the MLA signed six years ago,” he said in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.

Since the MLA’s ratification, Russia has submitted seven requests to Indonesia: one fulfilled, three pending documentations, one rejected, and two withdrawn.

Minister Supratman noted that President Prabowo Subianto recently approved the extradition of a Russian national, underscoring Indonesia’s commitment to the agreement.

For Russia, Gutsan described the signing as an important milestone in bilateral ties.

The meeting was part of Minister Supratman’s broader participation in the 14th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum (SPILF), a gathering of global legal experts and policymakers.

Indonesia’s MLA with Russia, enacted through Law No. 5/2021 and effective since December 18, 2021, provides a framework for mutual assistance in criminal matters. It enables cooperation in investigations, prosecutions, court proceedings, and asset tracing, including the freezing of criminal proceeds.

By reinforcing this legal instrument, both countries aim to enhance practical collaboration in combating transnational crime and ensuring stronger judicial cooperation. ***