Ukraine Moves to Join OECD Anti-Bribery Convention with New Legislation

Legislation for OECD Convention Accession

According to Главком: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has submitted a draft law to Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, seeking the country's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. This move is a key part of Ukraine's broader effort to secure OECD membership, an application it formally submitted in 2022. The OECD is a prominent international body that sets standards for economic policy and governance.

On October 23, 2025, the OECD Working Group made a significant decision to invite Ukraine to join both the Convention and the Working Group itself, highlighting strong international backing for Ukraine's anti-corruption drive. Joining this convention is intended to strengthen Ukraine's legal framework for preventing bribery and corrupt schemes.

Amendments to the Criminal Code

To implement this process, the President also submitted a separate draft law to the Rada proposing amendments to Ukraine's Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and the Law 'On Prevention of Corruption'. These changes are designed to align national legislation with the international standards established by the OECD Convention and to improve mechanisms for enforcing anti-corruption norms.

These initiatives underscore Ukraine's commitment to integrating into international anti-corruption systems, a crucial step for improving the investment climate and building trust in Ukrainian institutions. Accession to the OECD Convention will not only help Ukraine adapt its laws to European standards but will also foster stronger international cooperation in fighting corruption, which is vital for the country's stability and development.