Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a draft law to the State Duma deputies on Russia’s withdrawal from the Convention on Criminal Liability for Corruption. The government submitted the relevant proposals to the president on 22 December.
“To terminate the Criminal Law Convention against Corruption signed on behalf of the Russian Federation on 27 January 1999 in the city of Strasbourg”,
says document.
The explanatory note states that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has terminated Russia’s full membership in the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO), which oversees compliance with the Convention, and that the Russian Federation has lost its right to vote and cannot join. in discussing reports.
“Since such conditions are unacceptable for the Russian Federation, and also in order to take measures to prevent a discriminatory attitude towards the Russian Federation within the framework of GRECO evaluation mechanisms, it is proposed to terminate and terminate the Agreement. Participation of the Russian Federation in GRECO,” says the explanatory note.
The document states that terminating the deal will not entail additional costs to the federal budget. The draft was sent to the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.
On 13 December, Interfax reported, citing a source, that the government supports the draft repeal of the Convention. According to the agency’s interlocutor, the draft says that this decision was taken in conjunction with the Council of Europe Committee’s decision to terminate Russia’s membership in the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).
On 23 December, RBC also reported that the termination of the agreement was linked to the actions of the Council of Europe, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Russia, which is a party to the document, has constantly included the provisions of the contract in its legislation and contributed to its progress.
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Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the country continues to operate its systems in a tough fight against corruption, but that it is not possible to defeat him in the end. However, this problem has not been eliminated anywhere in the world, but this is not a comradeship, it is a consistent activity and this work will continue,” he said.
“This does not undermine our legislative potential – our internal legislative potential to fight corruption,” Peskov said. said.
However, he noted that withdrawing from the international agreement could lead to difficulties in extradition of corruption suspects from other countries. It is linked to the general political line of the Council of Europe.. However, he noted that the international interaction of the Russian Federation with friendly countries will continue.
Criminal liability will not be eliminated
Anatoly Vyborny, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption speech He also stated that the termination of the contract with socialbites.ca will not affect the anti-corruption work in the country.
“Criminal liability for corruption will not be eliminated in Russia. It is the same reality as the principle of zero tolerance for corrupt officials. Therefore, reporting is actually a mutual step. I do not think that this decision will have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the fight against corruption in Russia. In addition, anti-corruption methods and models used in the Russian Federation have proven their effectiveness. Bribe recipients are caught by the hand much more often,” he said.
Vyborny noted that anti-corruption efforts have had such results, and that people found guilty of embezzlement are three times more likely to recoup the damage caused. He also noted that representatives of other states highly appreciated the effectiveness of Russia’s anti-corruption legislation.
“For example, we have a Strategy and a National Anti-Corruption Plan, unlike the United States, where the first such document in American history came out and was signed only two years ago,” he stressed.
The MP added that the withdrawal from the Convention was a step in retaliation against the termination of Russia’s GRECO membership by the Council of Europe and the insults that hit the country’s national interests. He noted that the Russian Federation “while maintaining its control functions, is constantly deprived of rights, including the right to vote, and retains the ability to monitor the implementation by our country of conditions and obligations, mainly dictated and imposed on us by hostile countries.”