In its first session of the New Year, the newly elected State Duma completed a key step in Russia’s efforts to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s by ratifying the group’s anti-bribery convention.

Duma deputies signed the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials on Friday to “enhance the attractiveness of the national economy and attract investment,” Kommersant reported.

The move, along with Russia’s completing negotiations for WTO membership, has been widely viewed as among the most important steps in securing a place in the OECD.

The original article can be found at www.themoscowtimes.com