Russia still needs to make substantial progress on key recommendations issued by the OECD Working Group on Bribery in 2012 and 2013. As a party to the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, Russia is subject to systematic monitoring by the Working Group on how well it implements the requirements of the Convention. The Working Group comprises the 41 parties to the Convention.
The Working Group has repeatedly urged Russia to make several changes to its domestic criminal law to bring it in line with the Convention. Due to a lack of progress, Russia has been subject to more frequent reporting to the Working Group on account of its failure to address the following key weaknesses.
First, Russia has failed to criminalise the offer and promise of a bribe in cases of foreign bribery and when the bribe takes the form of non-material advantages. Russia was also required to eliminate the defence of “effective regret” as it applies to foreign bribery and ensure that its definition of public officials is consistent with the Convention and its commentaries but did not do so.
Second, Russia has not strengthened its laws on corporate liability to ensure implementation of the Convention.
Third, Russia has failed to amend its law in relation to seizure and confiscation to make these tools available to foreign bribery cases.
Finally, Russia should ensure that all credible foreign bribery allegations are proactively and conscientiously detected and seriously investigated.
As a State Party to the Convention, Russia is called upon to accelerate the reform process and to remedy as a matter of urgency all pending legislative and implementation concerns.
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