{"id":25566,"date":"2020-10-13T07:01:33","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T04:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transparency.lt\/?p=25566"},"modified":"2023-07-28T15:16:17","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T12:16:17","slug":"lithuania-should-improve-its-implementation-of-the-oecd-anti-bribery-convention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/transparency.lt\/en\/lithuania-should-improve-its-implementation-of-the-oecd-anti-bribery-convention\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania should improve its implementation of the OECD anti-bribery convention"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to a study by \u201cTransparency International\u201d, Lithuania is ranked among countries with limited implementation of international commitments and was rated worse for its law enforcement efforts than neighboring Estonia and Latvia.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Between 2016 and 2019, the Lithuanian Special Investigation Service (STT) launched three prie-trial investigations into bribery of foreign officials by Lithuanian companies operating abroad: bribery of an aircraft and engineering company in the United States, alleged crimes of a frozen products company in Russia and the possible bribery of the pharmaceutical company in Latvia. The latter case is the only one of the three that is still ongoing. The investigation into bribery of a US official has not reached the court due to a lack of evidence, while the crimes linked to a Russian frozen products company have not been fully investigated as the legal immunity of the suspect has not been waived.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lithuania has been awarded 3 points for the initiated investigations and it is classified among countries with limited enforcement of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.<\/span><\/p>\n

The United States (1236), the United Kingdom (147), Switzerland (125), and Israel (38) have been rated the best for law enforcement investigations and their outcomes. Together these countries account for 16.5% of world export. The number of countries actively enforcing the Convention has decreased by one third – in 2018 there were seven and accounted for 27% of world export.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neighbouring Estonia (7) and Latvia (6) scored higher than Lithuania, but they also fall into the same group of countries with limited compliance with OECD obligations to investigate foreign bribery. 19 countries, including Russia (1), Poland (3), the Czech Republic (3) and Hungary (0), have little or no enforcement.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I would like our businesses and law enforcement institutions to comply even better with international commitments and to pay more attention to promoting business transparency. The examples of neighbouring Latvia and Estonia demonstrate that this is achievable,\u201c – says Sergejus Muravjovas, CEO of \u201cTransparency International\u201d Lithuania.<\/span><\/p>\n

Based on the findings of this study, Transparency international Lithuanian chapter recommends:<\/span><\/p>\n