Limits of Diplomatic Immunity

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2003-07-01 02:57pm

I confess near-total ignorance of this subject, so perhaps others more informed can assist me in understanding this. What exactly are the limits of diplomatic immunity, and do these rights change from nation to nation? Is it just a brainbug of hollywood writers, or can diplomatic immunity really let a diplomat get away with murder?

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2003-07-01 03:07pm

Yep Immunity is IMMUNITY, but diplomatic crisi and bad relations might happen.

The worst you can do is declare the diplomat "persona non grata" and give him like 24h to leave the country.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-07-01 04:32pm

Hotfoot wrote:I confess near-total ignorance of this subject, so perhaps others more informed can assist me in understanding this. What exactly are the limits of diplomatic immunity, and do these rights change from nation to nation? Is it just a brainbug of hollywood writers, or can diplomatic immunity really let a diplomat get away with murder?

Well since a Russian diplomat was able to go away after killing a woman while driving drunk,i say yes they can get away with murder.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-07-01 04:35pm

Forgot to add diplomatic immunity should apply only to trivial things,like parking tickets and not making a stop on the intersections.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-07-01 04:42pm

Montcalm wrote: Well since a Russian diplomat was able to go away after killing a woman while driving drunk,i say yes they can get away with murder.

Actually, no. You must be referring to that Georgian diplomat who did a hit
and run in Georgetown a few years back. His diplomatic immunity got revoked
by Georgia and he got put in the slammer.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-07-01 04:48pm

MKSheppard wrote:
Actually, no. You must be referring to that Georgian diplomat who did a hit
and run in Georgetown a few years back. His diplomatic immunity got revoked
by Georgia and he got put in the slammer.

Yup. The immunity can be revoked at any time and it's happened significantly more then once. Cases of diplomats getting away with murder are rather rare. really it does just serve to protect them from parking tickets.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-07-01 04:50pm

Immunity is real immunity, but if a diplomat commits a serious crime, his home country can revoke that immunity and he can be charged, convicted, and imprisoned. Letting one of your diplomats get away with murder is a good way to fuck up your relations with other countries.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-07-01 04:52pm

MKSheppard wrote:
Montcalm wrote: Well since a Russian diplomat was able to go away after killing a woman while driving drunk,i say yes they can get away with murder.
Actually, no. You must be referring to that Georgian diplomat who did a hit
and run in Georgetown a few years back. His diplomatic immunity got revoked
by Georgia and he got put in the slammer.

I`ll have to search the news archives,but the one i`m talking about was recalled back home and was never prosecuted in Canada.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-07-01 07:34pm

Hotfoot wrote:I confess near-total ignorance of this subject, so perhaps others more informed can assist me in understanding this. What exactly are the limits of diplomatic immunity, and do these rights change from nation to nation? Is it just a brainbug of hollywood writers, or can diplomatic immunity really let a diplomat get away with murder?

They can indeed get away with murder. The UN diplomats of third worls countries are notorious for abusing it in New York. They've gotten away with more than few felonies and almost all routinely don't pay for anything but escape because of immunity.

And yes, a diplomat can theoretically going on a shooting spree in broad daylight and get away with it so long as his government backs him. But in most cases the immunity is simply revoked by the diplomats government or they are expelled.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2003-07-02 03:55am

Stormbringer wrote:And yes, a diplomat can theoretically going on a shooting spree in broad daylight and get away with it so long as his government backs him. But in most cases the immunity is simply revoked by the diplomats government or they are expelled.

I dont think the USA Government would tolerate another government sanctioning that type of action.

Diplomat immunity only goes as far as the host Government is willing to let it. And that would be one case were I dont thing the US Government would are about the opinion of a country backing a mass murderer, and the international backlash would be minimal (France would object of course

)

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-07-02 11:51am

It's a major breach in protocol for a host country to arbitrarily dismiss diplomatic immunity, even in cases where the diplomat in question has committed a major felony. The proper procedure is to lean on the diplomat's home country to revoke immunity. Countries that feel they have the right to revoke immunity anytime they please make diplomats nervous.

Post by **weemadando** » 2003-07-03 09:32pm

OK, Diplomatic Immunity works as follows:

You are ONLY immune if the crime which you have commited is NOT a crime in your nation of origin - the nation which has granted you immunity.

Crimes with Diplomatic Immunity involved are generally concluded in one of 3 ways:

Its let go due to diplomatic immunity (not common except with minor offenses).

Diplomatic Immunity is revoked by the grantor and prosecution occurs in the nation where the offense took place.

Diplomatic Immunity is maintained and the person is brought home to face trial in their own nations courts.

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