Weekly analysis for 26 May — 01 June

The Verkhovna Rada Approved Draft Law No. 15056 in the First Reading, Paving the Way for Ukraine’s Accession to the OECD Working Group on Bribery

Event

On May 26, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed in the first reading Draft Law № 15056, which introduces amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, and the Law of Ukraine “On Prevention of Corruption”.

The Law on Ukraine’s accession to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, adopted on March 10, 2026, will enter into force only after the final adoption of Draft Law №15056.

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) brings together 38 of the world’s most advanced economies. Ratification of the Convention and accession to the OECD Working Group on Bribery are key prerequisites for Ukraine’s future membership in the Organisation.

Ukraine’s accession to the Convention and membership in the Working Group are also included as a separate measure in the Rule of Law Roadmap. As such, they constitute important elements of the country’s European integration process.

CPLR’s assessment

According to the established procedure, accession to the Convention is possible only upon an official invitation to join the OECD Working Group on Bribery, which Ukraine received on  December 9, 2025.

The invitation served as international recognition that Ukraine has a functioning anti-corruption infrastructure with the capacity to investigate and prosecute bribery in international business transactions, hold those responsible accountable, and cooperate with other member states through international legal assistance mechanisms.

As part of the preparations for joining the Working Group, Ukraine amended its legislation to align it with the minimum standards of the Convention. In particular, the following laws were adopted:

– Law № 4111-IX of December 4, 2024, amending the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, and other legislative acts to strengthen mechanisms for holding legal entities accountable for the bribery of foreign public officials;

– Law № 4112-IX of December 4, 2024, amending the Tax Code of Ukraine and certain other laws reflect the OECD Council Recommendations on tax measures for further combating the bribery of foreign public officials in international business transactions. 

These laws introduced mechanisms that are new to Ukraine’s legal system, including the autonomous application of criminal law measures to legal entities (independently of the criminal liability of any individual) and prohibition of claiming bribe payments as tax-deductible expenses.

The draft law on amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, and the Law of Ukraine “On Prevention of Corruption” (№ 15056), adopted in the first reading, introduces targeted amendments to these legislative acts to bring them into full compliance with the Convention.

Until the final adoption and entry into force of Draft Law №15056, uncertainty will remain regarding Ukraine’s participation in the OECD Working Group on Bribery.

The systematic and rigorous assessment of legislation and its implementation, conducted for each member state, contributes to the continuous improvement of law enforcement agencies, prosecution services, and the judiciary, while also fostering the further development of criminal justice procedures. Membership in the OECD Working Group on Bribery also serves as an important safeguard Membership in the OECD Working Group on Bribery also serves as an important safeguard against political authorities’ attempts to undermine the independence and effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions.