The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has published a Phase 4 evaluation of Latvia’s implementation of the Anti-Bribery Convention, concluding that the country has made substantial progress but still needs further changes to align its framework and enforcement with the Convention. The review highlights sanctions imposed on two companies for foreign bribery and trial proceedings started against two others, alongside legal and institutional reforms including a stronger foreign bribery offence, higher monetary sanctions, broader whistleblower protections, greater prosecutorial and judicial specialization in economic and corruption crimes, and major improvements to the anti-money laundering system. The OECD Working Group on Bribery said Latvia should now address remaining and new weaknesses in prevention, detection and enforcement. Its recommendations include adopting a detection strategy as foreign bribery and money laundering risks evolve, setting clearer policies to encourage companies to detect and report foreign bribery, applying whistleblower protections effectively, avoiding an unduly narrow interpretation of the foreign bribery offence, confiscating the proceeds of foreign bribery as far as possible, and ensuring the justice system has sufficient resources. As part of the Working Group’s Phase 4 monitoring, the report also examines detection, enforcement, corporate liability, international cooperation and unresolved issues from earlier reviews. Latvia is due to report back to the Working Group in June 2028 on implementation of the recommendations and its enforcement efforts.
OECD2026-07-07
OECD finds Latvia has strengthened foreign bribery enforcement but urges further action on detection confiscation and resources
The OECD’s Phase 4 review says Latvia has made substantial progress in implementing the Anti-Bribery Convention, including corporate sanctions, stronger laws and improved specialization in corruption cases. It also identifies further work on detection, whistleblower protection, confiscation, legal interpretation and justice system resources. Latvia must report back in June 2028.