Anti-corruption activities in the Russian Federation

In May 2007, the OECD Council at Ministerial level adopted a resolution to open discussions with the Russian Federation for its membership in the Organisation. On 30 November 2007, the OECD Council approved the 'roadmap to accession' for the Russian Federation. As part of the accession process, the roadmap requires the OECD Working Group on Bribery to consider and adopt a formal opinion on the willingness and ability of the Russian Federation to commit to the obligations of OECD membership in the field of anti-corruption.

In February 2009, the Russian Federation formally applied to the OECD Secretary-General to accede to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and become a full participant in Working Group on Bribery. Consideration of that request will be undertaken by the Working Group following the receipt of information from the Russian Federation. For the purpose of enhancing mutual understanding of domestic and international anti-bribery measures, the OECD Secretariat undertook a mission to Moscow in May 2009 to discuss matters with representatives from the Russian Federation. Following accession to the Anti-Bribery Convention, the Working Group will undertake Phase 1 and 2 evaluations of the legislative and practical implementation by the Russian Federation of the Convention and related anti-bribery instruments. OECD members of the Working Group will then consider the willingness and ability of the Russian Federation to commit to the obligations of OECD membership in the field of anti-corruption.

In addition to the accession process, the Russian Federation also participates in the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN), one of the regional outreach programmes of the Working Group on Bribery. In this framework, the Russian Federation participates in ACN General Meetings and Conferences, takes part in the sub-regional activities, notably the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan, and in the thematic activities.