At the invitation of Thailand, the Russian delegation led by Head of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Directorate Alexander Anikin visited Bangkok.
During the visit, talks were held with Chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, Governor of Chonburi Province Phakkhrathon Thianchai and senior officials of Thai law enforcement agencies, with the participation of Russian Ambassador to Thailand Yevgeny Tomikhin.
Foremost on the agenda were issues related to deepening bilateral anti-corruption cooperation and expanding collaboration at specialised international venues.
For the first time in the bilateral partnership, spheres influencing tourism were identified as an important target of anti-corruption efforts.
Russia prioritised protecting the interests of the millions of Russians who come to the Kingdom of Thailand on holiday against possible corruption and assisting them in difficult situations.
In order to reach these goals, the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand, in addition to its traditional oversight functions, will also facilitate direct cooperation between the heads of law enforcement and other governmental bodies responsible for migration and customs control as well as for tourism, and the Russian Embassy as well as other competent services when examining corresponding applications from Russians.
The partners agreed to promote and protect their common interests at the UN, APEC, ASEAN and OECD forums. Among the pressing issues requiring further cooperation, they identified repatriation of stolen assets and extradition of fugitive corrupt individuals.
Additional measures to step up joint anti-corruption efforts will be adopted in late June 2019 at the meeting of the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions.
In order to strengthen anti-corruption contacts between investigative bodies, the Russian Investigative Committee and the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
The talks were held in a friendly atmosphere with comprehensive support provided by the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Thailand.
The Russian delegation invited their Thai colleagues to pay a subsequent visit to Russia.