The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions (OECD WGB) acknowledges Latvia's significant progress in implementing the recommendations of the Phase 3 evaluation, achieving and demonstrating clear results in the successful investigation and follow-up of criminal proceedings on bribery of foreign officials. Latvia has fully or partially complied with 35 of the 44 recommendations of the OECD WGB.
Director of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau of Latvia (KNAB) Jēkabs Straume: “The acknowledgment of the OECD WGB is a noteworthy achievement for Latvia's thorough work over two years to comply with the recommendations for preventing and combating bribery of foreign officials and related crimes. This will remain one of the priorities of KNAB, which the institution will implement in close cooperation with other institutions, including the Financial Intelligence Unit and Prosecutor General's Office.”
The OECD WGB welcomed KNAB having successfully investigated and prosecuted two criminal cases of alleged bribery of foreign officials for the first time in the institution's history, thus confirming its ability to successfully investigate not only domestic but also cross-border bribery cases. The working group also welcomed the cooperation of KNAB with other institutions, including the Financial Intelligence Unit, in the investigation of bribery of foreign officials and related money laundering crimes.
The OECD WGB has simultaneously given a positive assessment of KNAB's proactive approach to detecting cases of bribery of foreign officials, attracting additional human resources, including analysts, whose main task is to detect and support the investigation of corruptive criminal offenses, as well as by organizing and participating in training aimed at the investigation of corruption and money laundering.
Although Latvia has made significant progress since the entry into force of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions on 30 May 2014, it must continue work on all OECD WGB recommendations. The aim thereof is to strengthen Latvia's capacity to detect and investigate cross-border corruption and related crimes, including money laundering and other financial crimes.
The full summary and conclusions of the implementation of recommendations of the OECD WGB Phase 3 Evaluation Report are available on the OECD website.