THE CONCEPT, SIGNIFICANCE, AND ROLE OF EXTRADITION IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

International cooperation in criminal proceedings today has become an integral element of effective criminal justice. Due to the intensification of transnational crime, there is an objective need for stable legal mechanisms of interstate interaction. One such mechanism is extradition — a means aimed at transferring accused or convicted persons for the purpose of criminal prosecution or execution of a sentence. The article analyzes the content and legal nature of extradition as an institution operating at the junction of national and international law. The study covers the legal grounds for extradition, the principles of its implementation, and the restrictions related to the rights of the individual and the political status of the requested person. The author identifies conflict-of-law issues arising from cooperation between states with different legal systems and approaches to ensuring procedural guarantees. Special attention is paid to the application of international conventions, such as the 1957 European Convention on Extradition, and their impact on the unification of procedures. A comparative analysis of extradition practices in the legal systems of the Republic of Uzbekistan, France, and Turkey is conducted. The necessity of a balanced approach between the interests of justice and the protection of fundamental human rights is substantiated. A conclusion is made about the potential of extradition as an element of sustainable international legal policy. The presented materials may be useful for legislators, practitioners, and researchers working in the field of international criminal law.