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Every year 9 December is the International Anti-Corruption Day.
On this day in 2003 in Mexico the UN Convention against Corruption was opened for signature, which obliges states, which have joined it, declare felony bribery, embezzlement of budget funds, and laundering of the proceeds of corruption. Russia was among the first countries to sign the Convention. The fundamental piece of legislation in the fight against corruption in Russia was Federal Law of 25 December 2008 №273-FZ "On Combating Corruption".
The law establishes the basic principles of anti-corruption legal and institutional framework for the prevention of corruption and struggle against it, minimization, and (or) liquidation of consequences of corruption offenses. Thus, Article 13.3. of this document obliges organizations to take all necessary measures to prevent corruption. This is, in particular, the introduction of anti-corruption standards, that is, establishment for the relevant area of activity a unified system of prohibitions, restrictions and permissions, to ensure the prevention of corruption in it.
IDGC of Centre pays much attention to the implementation of the state anti-corruption policy. In May 2015 the company joined the Anti-Corruption Charter of Russian business, involving the introduction of special anti-corruption programs and practices, the rejection of preferences, purchases based on open tendering, financial control, training, and work with the staff, assisting law enforcement agencies and other measures.
To fulfill the provisions of Article 13.3. of the Law "On Combating Corruption", in 2016 IDGC of Centre created a specialized department – the Department of anti-corruption compliance procedures. Its priorities include the development and practical implementation of anti-corruption policy of the Company, formed in the framework of the List of anti-corruption measures adopted by "Rosseti" Group of Companies. It provides for the improvement of local regulations, increasing the efficiency and optimization of business processes in the field of collecting and analyzing information on declarations of conflict of interest, declaration of income, as well as contracts, contractors and ownership structure, disclosed to the final beneficiary.
The work of the Department of anti-corruption compliance procedures has already produced tangible results. The implementation by the Company for inspection of possible conflicts of interest and corrupt practices of information-analytical systems of the International Information Group "Interfax" brought significant effect. The created by PJSC "Rosseti" automated system - "Analysis and collection of information on beneficiaries" also did so, which allows to collect data from multiple sources into a single information space, and provide verification of information about legal entities and natural persons, to detect signs of affiliation, conflict of interest, pre-conflict situations and other abuses.
Perfecting local acts of IDGC of Centre has led to improvement of the quality of inspections and the scope of verifiable information, improving the quality of reports submitted to PSC "Rosseti" and then to the competent authorities.
One of the most effective mechanisms for prevention of corruption, compliance, safety and security and protection of property interests and business reputation of the Company, is to prevent conflicts of interest. IDGC of Centre has developed and uses the provision "On the resolution of the conflict of interests", which determines the procedures for the prevention of its occurrence, timely detection and resolution. The document covers the whole range of possible manifestations of conflict of interests: on the participation of employees of the Company in activities of organizations that provide (intending to provide) services to the Company, or they receive from such organizations material benefits, gifts and services - to an obstacle to the timely fulfillment of their labour (official) duties by another employee for the purpose of personal gain, the use of confidential information for profit or competitive advantage when making business deals. The implementation of this provision allows to prevent such manifestations among IDGC of Centre’s employees and to avoid negative consequences for them, since, in accordance with the Russian legislation, corruption offenses entail criminal, administrative, civil and disciplinary liability.
Receiving gifts or other benefits from existing or potential suppliers of the Company, as practice shows, is one of the most widespread manifestations of conflicts of interest. Specialists of the departments of anti-corruption compliance procedures of IDGC of Centre perform active explanatory work with the company’s staff on measures to prevent and resolve such situations. First, employees must in writing notify the Department of anti-corruption compliance procedures of these facts so that the employer can promptly resolve the situation of a conflict of interest.
Implementing the anti-corruption policy, IDGC of Centre actively cooperates with government authorities, as well as provides for the publicity of its anti-corruption measures. The company creates relationships with partners, contractors and third parties in accordance with the anti-corruption principles and standards, implementing competitive procurement, guided by objective criteria when choosing suppliers, conducts the appropriate awareness-raising activities.
In 2017 IDGC of Centre will continue actively implementing the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Policy, increasing its efficiency through better use of existing and implementation of new tools and practices. The Company intends to closely follow the vector designated by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin in the next address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation: "the fight against corruption ... requires professionalism, seriousness and responsibility". Everyone, who works honestly for the good of the country, should feel that the state and society on his or her side. No position, no high regard, no past achievements can be a cover for unscrupulous people.
"The main purpose of anti-corruption measures implemented by IDGC of Centre is to create conditions to minimize and eventually exclude corruption. The business reputation of the company, attitude of its partners is directly dependent on the success of this task solving and, as a consequence, - results of financial and economic activity. IDGC of Centre cooperates with public authorities and law enforcement agencies, the business community, research and development organizations, including in terms of the preparation of proposals to amend the existing anti-corruption legislation, the exchange of experiences on the implementation of its own developments in this sphere," stresses Deputy General Director for Work with Public Authorities and Anti-Corruption Activities of IDGC of Centre, PJSC Viktoria Nikiforova.