MPs Back Draft Law Enabling Ukraine to Join the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials

On November 10, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada adopted Draft Law No. 15056 as a whole. The decision was supported by 247 MPs.

This parliamentary decision is a condition for the entry into force of the law on Ukraine’s accession to the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. It is an important step toward OECD membership and toward stronger international cooperation in investigating corruption cases.

The law amends the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Law on Corruption Prevention. In particular, legal entities will no longer be able to evade liability through reorganization, even where it has not been possible to identify the specific individual responsible for bribery, trading in influence, or money laundering. 

The law also resolves a conflict in the definition of officials. For the purposes of Article 364 of the Criminal Code, the list of officials now includes employees of local self-government bodies and municipal enterprises. Official status has also been extended to members of international parliamentary assemblies in which Ukraine does not participate. 

In addition, the adopted draft law clarifies the procedure for appealing investigating judges’ rulings on restrictions on the activities of legal entities. It also aligns the definition of an authorized person of a legal entity with the Criminal Code.

TI Ukraine supported the adoption of this draft law. However, we have previously emphasized that “autonomous” criminal liability of legal entities will not be effective until it covers the offenses under Articles 364 and 191 of the Criminal Code and cases involving the bribery of national officials. 

This issue therefore remains on the agenda for further improvement of Ukrainian legislation.