Weekly analysis for 10 — 16 March

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ratifies the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention

Event

On March 10, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted law on Ukraine’s accession to the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions of December 17, 1997.

The OECD is an international organization comprising 38 of the world’s most developed countries. Ratification of this Convention and participation in the OECD Working Group on Bribery are required steps for Ukraine’s accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Ukraine’s accession to the Convention and participation in the Working Group are also envisioned as a separate measure in the Rule of Law Roadmap and therefore represent important elements of our country’s European integration.

CPLR’s assessment 

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

This invitation constitutes international recognition that Ukraine has a functioning anti-corruption infrastructure capable of prosecuting cases of bribery in international business transactions, holding those responsible to account, and cooperating with other member states on this matter within established mechanisms of international legal cooperation.

As part of the preparations for joining the Working Group, Ukraine amended its legislation to ensure compliance with the Convention’s minimum standards. In particular, this includes:

– the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, and Other Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Improving Mechanisms for Holding Legal Entities Responsible for the Bribery of Foreign Public Officials” of 4 December 2024 No. 4111-IX; and

– the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and Certain Laws of Ukraine to Implement the Provisions of the Recommendations of the Council of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development concerning Tax Measures for Further Combating the Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions” of 4 December 2024 No. 4112-IX.

These laws introduce mechanisms that are challenging for Ukraine’s legal system, including the autonomous application of criminal law measures to legal entities (regardless of whether an individual is held criminally liable) and the prohibition of recognizing expenses paid as bribes in tax reporting.

The entry into force of the adopted Law on accession to the Convention is linked to the enactment of the Law on Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Law of Ukraine “On Corruption Prevention” (draft law № 15056). The law provides for targeted amendments to these legislative acts to ensure full compliance with the Convention.

Until the law amending the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Law on Corruption Prevention takes effect, the participation of Ukrainian delegation in the OECD Working Group remains uncertain.Systematic and rigorous assessment of legislation and its practical implementation conducted for each member state ensures continuous improvement of the operation of law enforcement agencies, prosecution service, and the judiciary, as well as further strengthening of criminal proceedings. Participation in the OECD Working Group also provides an additional safeguard against attempts by political authorities to restrict the independence and effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions.