Competent national authority

Republic of Estonia

Estonia - Criminal Procedure Code 2003 (2020) EN

Chapter 19INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

Division 1General Provisions

§ 435. Judicial authorities competent to engage in international cooperation in criminal proceedings
(1) The central authority for international cooperation in criminal proceedings is the Ministry of Justice, unless otherwise provided by law or international legislation binding on the Republic of Estonia.
[RT I, 21.06.2014, 11 - entry into force 01.01.2015]
(2) Courts, the Prosecutors' Offices, the Police and Border Guard Board, the Security Police Board, the Tax and Customs Board, the Environmental Inspectorate, the Competition Board and the Military Police are the judicial authorities competent to engage in international cooperation in criminal proceedings to the extent provided by law and international legislation binding on the Republic of Estonia.
[RT I, 21.06.2014, 11 - entry into force 01.01.2015]
(3) If the Penal Code of Estonia is applied to criminal offences which are committed outside the territory of the Republic of Estonia, the Office of the Prosecutor General, which initiates criminal proceedings or verifies the legality and justification of commencement of the criminal proceedings, shall be immediately informed thereof.
[RT I 2004, 46, 329 - entry into force 01.07.2004]

Chapter 19INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

Division 3Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters

§ 462. Processing of requests for assistance received from foreign states
[RT I, 21.06.2014, 11 - entry into force 01.01.2015]
(1) The Ministry of Justice shall verify whether a request for assistance received from a foreign state meets the requirements. A request for assistance in compliance with the requirements shall be immediately communicated to the Office of the Prosecutor General.
(2) The Office of the Prosecutor General shall verify whether compliance with the request for assistance is admissible and possible and communicate the request for assistance to the competent judicial authority for execution.
(3) Requests for assistance received by investigative bodies shall be communicated to the Office of the Prosecutor General. In cases of urgency, a request for assistance submitted through the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) or a notice in the Schengen Information System may be complied with before the request for assistance is received by the Ministry of Justice with the consent of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
[RT I, 21.06.2014, 11 - entry into force 01.01.2015]

Rome Statute

Article 87 Requests for cooperation: general provisions

1.

(a) The Court shall have the authority to make requests to States Parties for cooperation. The requests shall be transmitted through the diplomatic channel or any other appropriate channel as may be designated by each State Party upon ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Subsequent changes to the designation shall be made by each State Party in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.