The Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation resigns from the IAP

On 23 March 2022, in advance of a hearing by the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) Executive Committee on whether to suspend or expel the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation (OPG) from the IAP on the grounds of dishonourable conduct and/or that its continued membership is detrimental to the Association, the OPG has notified the IAP of its resignation from the IAP. In addition, the OPG has terminated the agreement regarding the IAP Regional Office in St. Petersburg, following the earlier suspension of its operational activities by the IAP.
 
The IAP regrets that the OPG took this step without facing the discussions that were about to start in the IAP Executive Committee.
 
The IAP recognises the 25 years of mutual commitment and international cooperation with the OPG to overcome the challenges of the worldwide fight against modern dangerous criminality. The IAP is grateful for that cooperation.
 
However, this relation cannot and will not make the IAP closing its eyes to the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ordered by the President of the Russian Federation, an act that violates both Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law in a grave way. Instead, the International Association of Prosecutors – a global association represented by prosecution services, associations of prosecutors and individuals -  joins the international community in condemning Russia’s violent acts.

The IAP stands for promoting the effective, fair, impartial and efficient prosecution of criminal offences, and to respect and seek to protect Human Rights, as laid down in the IAP Standards of Professional Responsibility and Statement of the Essential Duties and Rights of Prosecutors, standards that serve as an international benchmark for the conduct of individual prosecutors and of prosecution services. Because of the responsibility that arises from the IAP Constitution and the IAP Standards, the IAP took action against the OPG of the Russian Federation.
 
The IAP expresses hope that the leaders of the Russian Federation will come to their senses and end the violent acts in Ukraine. This hope goes along with the hope that future relations with the OPG, the professionals, will be restored, and will lead to a further joined fight against the worldwide challenges of modern dangerous criminality.