Russia has called on the world’s major economies to reject what it described as: "neocolonial practices" and to strengthen global efforts against corruption. Speaking at the Group of Twenty (G20) Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting in Skukuza, South Africa, this week, Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky said the use of sanctions and protectionism was undermining international trust.

He praised South Africa for convening the session, calling it: "a good opportunity for exploring where G20 stands in the international anti-corruption landscape and determining the priorities of its future action."

Lyubinsky noted that it was: "significant that the first African G20 Presidency is held in the year of an important anniversary for this continent," referring to the 65th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, introduced by the Soviet Union. The declaration, he said, had contributed to the: "current global multipolar environment which is characterized by the consolidation of emerging centres of growth with no room for anyone’s hegemony."

However, he warned that: "persistent neocolonial practices such as illegitimate economic sanctions, protectionism and attempts to replace the universally recognised international legal framework by a rule-based order convenient for the few are being registered." These: "disgraceful practices," he said: "must be condemned and rejected" because: "they do nothing but trigger the multiplication of conflicts and crises across the world."

Marking 20 years since the UN Convention against Corruption entered into force, Lyubinsky said Russia: "was among the first countries to join this universal treaty" and viewed the G20 anti-corruption track as: "a valuable platform for supporting countries’ efforts by sharing knowledge and expertise in the field."

He placed particular emphasis on asset recovery, saying: "Russia condemns the illegal practices of seizure or, to put it bluntly, theft of sovereign funds and private investments located abroad." Returned assets, he said, must be handled: "without any preconditions being imposed by requested states."

Lyubinsky urged G20 members to ensure that: "international cooperation and asset recovery are to be accomplished in line with the applicable legal obligations and without undue political influence."