Moscow Protocol to the Tehran Convention enters into force

We are pleased to announce that the Russian Federation ratified the Protocol for the Protection of the Caspian Sea against Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (the “Moscow Protocol") and it entered in force on 13 November 2023. 

The Moscow Protocol, adopted in 2012, provides a series of measures to prevent, control, reduce and to the maximum extent possible eliminate pollution of the marine environment from land-based sources in order to achieve and maintain an environmentally sound marine environment of the Caspian Sea. The Protocol establishes important regulation on emission controls, emission limit values, best environmental practices applied and environmental quality objectives to strive.

The Moscow Protocol also enshrines the desire of Caspian countries to pursue the sustainable use of natural resources of the Caspian Sea as an integral part of the development process, meeting the needs of present and future generations in an equitable manner. Entering into force and start of the implementation of the Moscow Protocol is an important stage in restoration and comprehensive protection of fragile Caspian ecosystems from pollution.

The Moscow Protocol is the second Protocol to the Tehran Convention to enter into force. The first one is the Protocol Concerning Regional Preparedness, Response and Co-operation in Combating Oil Pollution Incidents (the Aktau Protocol), which entered into force in 2016. Negotiations are also currently underway for the fifth Protocol to the Tehran Convention on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange.