The Minsk Convention as a source of legalization

There are cases when it is necessary to provide a number ofdocuments to other countries or their embassies. To confirm the authenticity, they must undergo a special procedure, which is called legalization. The exception is the documents sent to the states where the Minsk Convention operates.

What is legalization?

This is a procedure that gives the document a legalforce in the territory of another country, which is a confirmation of the authority, authenticity of the signature or seal of the official who issued the document.

The procedure of legalization is divided into two types:

- putting "apostille" (simplified method);

- Consular legalization (for countries that have not signed the convention in The Hague).

Consular legalization is a very complicated procedure, which is designed to confirm the authenticity and legality of a document sent abroad, as well as compliance with its laws of the country.

Diplomatic or consular legalization consists of several consecutive stages:

- the document must be certified by a notary, (if the translation is verified, the signature of the transferor is required);

- certification of notarial signature and seal in the Ministry of Justice;

- confirmation of the stamp and signature of the authorized person of the Ministry of Justice in the Foreign Ministry;

- The last stage is the certification of the document in the consulate of the state to which it is sent.

Apostille in comparison with consular legalization is a very simple and uncomplicated procedure.

This concept originates from the signing in1961 of the Hague Convention, which abolished the provision on consular legalization. Instead of diplomatic legalization, a new document verification system was introduced, uniform for all member countries that signed the official document in 1961, as well as for a number of states that joined in the future.

In accordance with the norms of the Convention,Only official documents certified in state bodies are subject to apostille. With the help of this type of legalization, the authenticity of the signature of the civil servant who certified or issued the document is verified, and not its content.

What does an apostille look like?

In most cases, it is presented in the formstamp, which is attached to the document or is affixed directly to it. The stamp has a standard square shape, it contains the official text indicating the country of origin of the document, about the person who verified and signed it.

In most cases, it is made in one of the state languages, individual countries practice duplication of items contained in an apostille in one of the international languages.

The Minsk Convention

In some cases, documents sent forborder, do not require legalization at all. For unhindered submission of documents, it is necessary that a separate agreement between the states governing the free provision of official documents without appropriate assurance be signed. For example, the 1993 Minsk Convention.

In January 1993 in the city of Minsk wasa document on legal assistance that simplified the legalization of foreign documents, he received the abbreviated title "Minsk Convention". The participating countries that signed and ratified the document were Armenia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova and the Russian Federation

Thus, the Minsk Convention has becomea legislative act that allows to work without hindrance with almost all official documents issued in the territory of the former Union or in the territory of the countries of the post-Soviet space.

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