Anti-Corruption Charter of the Russian Business

Promote the voluntary implementation of anti-corruption programmes by Russian companies

The purpose of the Anti-Corruption Charter of the Russian Business is to actively promote the voluntary implementation of anti-corruption programmes by Russian companies that provide for internal control procedures, the waiver of preferences, procurement based on open tenders, financial control, anti-corruption training of personnel, assistance to law enforcement agencies and other measures.

Participation in the Charter and its consistent implementation by a company are recognised by Russian authorities as confirmation of the adoption of appropriate measures to prevent corruption, a legal obligation for any organisation under Article 13.3 of the Federal Law “On Combating Corruption”.

The Anti-Corruption Charter of Russian Business was signed in September 2012 by four of Russia’s largest business unions: the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, the All-Russian Public Organization of Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship “OPORA RUSSIA”, and the All-Russian Public Organisation “Business Russia”.

Governance and development of the Charter are handled by a Joint Committee, which includes the presidents of the four business associations.

The initiative is supported by the Russian government, which references the Charter in its National Anti-Corruption Plans and takes implementation of the Charter by comanpies into account in the work of executive authorities and the prosecutor’s office.

The Charter includes commitments on:

• Corporate management based on anti-corruption programmes
• Monitoring and assessment of anti-corruption programmes
• Efficient financial control
• Personnel training and control
• Joint efforts and transparency of anti-corruption measures
• Rejection of illegally gained benefits
• Relations with partners and counterparties based on the anti-corruption principles
• Transparent procurement procedures
• Information measures to counteract corruption
• Collaboration with the government
• Advocating law and order
• Combating bribery of foreign public officials and international organization officials.

The provisions of the charter apply to both the relations inside the business community and those between the business community and public authorities.

The engaged business associations maintain consolidated registers of organisations that have joined the Charter. To be included in the register and receive the corresponding certificate, a company must submit an application and questionnaire.

Every two years, the company submits a declaration of anti-corruption measures. The accuracy of the declaration may be pre-certified by the company at an accredited expert center. In addition, the company may undergo a public confirmation procedure through an accredited expert center, in which case it continues to remain in the register for 5 years.