---
title: "Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties"
url: "https://legal.ge/en/service/international-law-en/mutual-legal-assistance-treaties-en"
field: "International Law"
description: "Cooperation by treaty or reciprocity; documents delivered by post in an understandable language. Legal.ge."
reviewed: "2026-07-09"
updated: "2026-11-07"
publisher: "legal.ge"
---

# Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties

> Source: legal.ge, https://legal.ge/en/service/international-law-en/mutual-legal-assistance-treaties-en

Mutual legal assistance in criminal matters is the mechanism by which states exchange information, documents and the movement of persons, regulated by the Law of Georgia on International Cooperation in the Criminal Law Field. The law defines the bases of cooperation, the channels of communication, the rules for the delivery of documents and the summons of persons, the exchange of information and confidentiality. This page explains the mechanism for persons and companies involved in cross-border cases — from a document received from abroad to a summons to a Georgian proceeding.

## Bases and Channels

International cooperation in the criminal law field is, as a rule, carried out on the basis of an international treaty of Georgia. In individual cases an individual agreement or the principle of reciprocity is possible with a state with which no respective treaty has been concluded — in that case the conditions of reciprocity must contain the minimal guarantees established by law, though higher standards are not excluded. Communication takes place through the channels established by the treaty; in their absence, through direct channels if the national law of the foreign state does not require otherwise, and in the case of reciprocity diplomatic channels may also be used.

The law also permits the use of electronic means and the channels of the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol, where they allow the written presentation of the sent material and the establishment of its authenticity; upon a respective request, material so delivered is subsequently confirmed by the original or a certified copy.

## Delivery of Documents and the Summons of Persons

Where an appropriate legal basis exists, an investigator, a prosecutor or a judge is authorised to deliver, by post and in a language understandable to the person, a court decision or another procedural document to a person located in a foreign state; the document must be accompanied by a written explanation of the rights and duties of the addressee. The summons of a person located abroad — as an accused, a witness, an expert or a victim — takes place by way of a request for legal assistance.

A summoned witness, expert or victim is reimbursed for all expenses connected with travel and stay in Georgia, as well as absence from main work; the expert additionally receives reimbursement of the expenses and remuneration connected with the expert activity. The notice or the request must indicate the amount of expenses to be reimbursed to the summoned person in case of appearance.

The full text is available on legal.ge after signing in: https://legal.ge/en/service/international-law-en/mutual-legal-assistance-treaties-en

### Basis of cooperation?

Treaty, individual agreement or reciprocity.

### Document abroad?

By post, in an understandable language.

### Witness expenses?

Reimbursed; the expert receives more.

### Transferred person's status?

The initiating state's status.