The President, Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on mutual legal assistance in civil matters” , according to the Akorda website, “IA Zakon.kz”reported.

Purpose of the agreement is to promote cooperation in the field of legal relations, providing each other legal assistance in civil matters based on mutual respect for sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit, as it follows from the conclusion of the Committee of the House on constitutional legislation of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.

In accordance with Article 2 of the agreement, citizens and legal persons of one side use in the territory of another side the right to the same legal protection of personal and property rights as citizens and legal entities of the other side.

Citizens of one side are exempt from charges or entitled to a reduction of costs and use free legal aid on the territory of the other side on the conditions applied by the other side to its citizens. Exemptions from charges or reduction of costs and free legal aid are available, taking into account the financial situation of an applicant on the basis of income certificate issued by the competent authority of the territory where the applicant has a permanent or temporary residence.

The agreement regulates the procedure for service of documents relating to mutual legal assistance, collection and transmission of evidence, call of witnesses and experts, recognition and enforcement of judgments, decisions and arbitral awards.

Agreement greatly simplifies the provision of legal assistance to citizens of one state in another state.

A request for mutual legal assistance is performed within 90 days from the date of its receipt. The party may refuse from mutual legal assistance in the case, if it considers that the execution of requests for mutual legal assistance may prejudice its sovereignty, security, public order or the fundamental principles of national law, or requested assistance does not apply to the powers of the competent authorities.