Anti-corruption legal education: "On notification by certain categories of persons about receiving a gift in connection with protocol events"
The Civil Code of the Russian Federation does not allow the giving of gifts to civil servants in connection with the performance of their official duties, with the exception of gifts given in connection with protocol events, business trips and other official events.
A protocol event should be understood as an event that provides for a ceremonial procedure that has developed as a result of departmental, national, and cultural characteristics and/or the maintenance of a protocol, a document documenting the course of the event.;
An official event should be understood as an event authorized by the relevant order (for example, a business trip, including meetings and other events during the business trip, meetings, conferences, etc.).
The notification of receipt of a gift in connection with protocol events, etc., delivery and evaluation of the gift, sale (redemption) and transfer of funds from its sale, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 09.01.2014 No. 10 and the procedures provided for therein do not apply to:
1) stationery, which is provided to each participant as part of the events;
2) flowers, including in pots, flower baskets, artificial flowers, etc.;
3) gifts, including valuable ones, presented as incentives (awards) on behalf of the state (municipal) body, organization in which the official serves, other government agency, organization, as confirmed by the relevant order.
In this regard, it is not necessary to notify about the receipt and hand over the above gifts, they are the property of the donee.
If during the ceremony, gifts are presented to the entire team on behalf of the employer's representative, these gifts are not subject to delivery, since such a gift is a form of encouragement (reward).
Monetary remuneration awarded with an incentive (award) is an integral part of it if this remuneration is provided for by a regulatory order regulating the procedure for awarding incentives (awards).
It should be borne in mind that receiving such rewards does not exclude the possibility of a conflict of interest.
Before handing over the appropriate promotion (award) to an official, it is recommended to pre-coordinate the possibility of such an incentive (award) with the representative of the employer (head) of the official.