MOSCOW, January 26 (RIA Novosti) - According to preliminary information, the OECD has upgraded Russia's creditworthiness rating from the fourth to the third group of risk, a Russian Finance Ministry source said Friday.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is a Paris-based think tank uniting 30 market democracies, providing a forum to address economic, social and governance challenges.

"The OECD ratings panel has convened to discuss upgrading Russia's rating, among other issues, and the decision is reported to have been positive," the source said.

As part of its relations with other international organizations, the OECD has official contacts with the International Labor Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and many other United Nations bodies.

Russia holds observer status in the organization, which was formed after WWII to oversee the Marshall Plan for Europe's reconstruction.