Anti-Corruption Charter

Guided by the Decree No. 309 of the President of the Russian Federation dated April 2, 2013 «On Countering Corruption» and the Federal Law No. 273-FZ dated December 25, 2008 «On Countering Corruption», the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, the all-Russian Public Organization “Delovaya Rossiya” and the all-Russian non-governmental organization of small and medium businesses “OPORA RUSSIA” initiated the signing of the «Anti-Corruption Charter of the Russian Business».

The representatives of the business community of the Russian Federation, realizing that success in business is impossible without a universal consensus on rejecting any form of corruption, declared their intention to promote the principles of preventing and counteracting corruption — both in dealing with government authorities and in corporate relationships.

By signing the Charter, the participants declare and undertake to observe and promote the following basic principles of preventing and countering corruption:

1. Corporate governance based on anti-corruption programmes, which set principles, rules and procedures aimed at preventing corruption in all fields of corporate activities, including business ethics, special management procedures, personnel training requirements, special anti-corruption supervision and audit rules, conflict of interest and commercial bribery prevention procedures, donation, sponsorship, and charity rules.

2. Monitoring and evaluation of anti-corruption programme implementation in accordance with a company management structure and participation of internal supervision and audit bodies.

3. Effective financial control, which includes tools for auditing bookkeeping and accounting practices, human resource management and other activities, and regular review of internal control systems in accordance with anti-corruption programme requirements. Thus, among unacceptable are the following things: generation of off-the-books (double) accounts; making of off-the-books or inaccurately accounted transactions; recording of non-existent expenses; entry of liabilities with incorrect identification of their objects; intentional destruction of accounting and other documents earlier than foreseen by law.

4. Personnel training and supervision based on anti-corruption programmes with the guarantees that none of the employees will suffer in terms of career-development or financial harm if they reject corrupt practices, even if such rejection leads to financial damages for the company.

5. Collective efforts and publicity of anti-corruption measures with the use of mechanisms to communicate anti-corruption programme information within the company. Companies shall create an environment that enables their employees and other persons to freely identify programme defects and to promptly report suspicious circumstances to officers in charge.

6. Rejection of illegally obtained benefits while promoting the interests in order to strengthen the market positions. Such rules shall envisage rejection of gifts and paying expenses, donations and sponsorship contributions.

7. Partner and counterparty relationships based on anti-corruption policy principles. When assessing the due diligence of their partners and counterparties, companies shall take into account their degree of rejection of corrupt practices in doing business; companies shall monitor the soundness and proportionality of fees paid to agents, advisors and other intermediaries. It shall be unacceptable for a company to promise, offer, give or accept any undue benefit or advantage to any executive, officer or employee of another company for any action or omission in violation of the established duties. When the government authorities perform control and audit functions, companies shall assist them in creating conditions for non-biased inspections and shall not impede lawful actions of such authorities.

8. Promotion of justice and respect for the rule of law, counteracting legalization of criminal proceeds. Financial companies shall provide proper identification of clients, owners and beneficiaries and report about suspicious transactions to the competent authorities.

9. Combating bribery of foreign public officials and officials of international public organizations

The Charter is opened for all-Russian, regional and industry associations, Russian and foreign companies operating in Russia. At the same time companies can join the Charter directly or through the membership in organizations.

Currently, about 1700 organizations, companies and individual entrepreneurs have joined the Charter. Among them 17% engaged in professional scientific and technical activities, 14% engaged in manufacturing activity, 12% - trading companies.

The biggest share of participants is concentrated in Tyumen region (23%) and in Moscow and Moscow region (21%). In addition, 6% of the participants are already liquidated or in the process of liquidation.

The list of participants of the Charter is available in «Lists we recommend» of the Information and Analytical system Globas.