Verkhovna Rada Adopts Law on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials: What It Means for Ukraine's OECD Accession

The Verkhovna Rada has adopted a law aimed at combating the bribery of foreign public officials in international business transactions. According to RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement from parliament, the adopted document brings Ukrainian legislation closer to the standards of the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This initiative has become one of the key steps in preparing the country for integration into European and transatlantic institutional formats.

What Specifically the New Law Harmonizes

The adopted document aligns the norms of current Ukrainian legislation with the provisions of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. In essence, the law synchronizes national anti-corruption rules with the international instrument, eliminating discrepancies between domestic norms and the obligations Ukraine assumes within the framework of cooperation with the OECD and the EU.

New Opportunities for Investigating Corruption Crimes

Accession to the Convention opens up new opportunities for international cooperation in investigating corruption crimes for Ukraine. This means closer coordination with law enforcement and investigative agencies of member countries, information sharing, and joint mechanisms for prosecuting individuals involved in cross-border bribery, which strengthens the state's overall anti-corruption policy framework.

The Path to OECD Membership: From the 2022 Application to the Working Group Invitation

Recall that back in 2022, the Ukrainian government submitted an application for OECD membership. The main condition for this is accession to the Convention and participation in the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions. On October 23, 2025, the OECD Working Group officially invited Ukraine to join this document, making the domestic adoption of the corresponding law a logical next step on this path.

Broader Context: Other Anti-Corruption Initiatives

The adoption of the law on combating the bribery of foreign officials fits into a broader package of measures related to asset declaration and anti-corruption control. In particular, earlier Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada on the restoration of mandatory asset declaration for SBU employees. The combination of such initiatives forms the institutional foundation upon which Ukraine builds its compliance with EU and OECD criteria.