The convention was signed in Moscow on March 6, 1998, by all Commonwealth of Independent States member-countries with the exception of Turkmenistan and Ukraine.
The convention’s objective is to facilitate prisoners’ proper social rehabilitation by giving citizens (stateless persons) of one party to the convention, sentenced to prison terms for crimes committed on the territory of another party to the convention the chance to serve their sentences in their home country or country of permanent residence (in the case of stateless persons).
Russia has an interest in implementing this convention given that around 19,000 citizens of other parties to the convention are currently serving sentences in Russian prisons.
The convention sets out the procedures for handing over such prisoners.