Russian Duma Ratifies UN Anticorruption Treaty
17 February 2006 -- Russia's lower house of parliament has ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
Lawmakers in the State Duma today voted unanimously to ratify the treaty, which was signed by 120 countries in December 2003.
The convention requires governments to cooperate with one another in investigating corruption and prosecuting offenders. It also contains provisions to make it harder to set up phantom banks.
The treaty must now be ratified by the Federation Council and signed by President Vladimir Putin.
(AP, ITAR-TASS)