Anti-corruption initiatives of Kazakhstan

Astana, June 23, 2009 (Khabar) - International experts say Kazakhstan during 3 years took significant measures on corruption fighting. International organizations highly value Kazakhstan’s initiatives on expanding of forms of international cooperation of law enforcement bodies and joining of international conventions in sphere of corruption fighting. Representatives of OSCE and European commission say the number of revealed corrupted crimes is increasing and sums of returned damage to the citizens and state also rises. Rene Malli, delegate of European commission in Kazakhstan says Europe doesn’t differ from other states according to the corruption level. But each state has its own methods of solution of this problem and Kazakhstan succeeded in this. The participants of the conference spoke about effectiveness of counteraction to corruption in conditions of world financial crisis and the experts are sure fidelity to principle is one of main conditions of successful realization of strategy of post-crisis development. This April the Kazakhstani President signed decree on toughening of corruption fighting and punishing of all the corrupted officials despite their posts and merits.

Alik Shpekbayev, head of department of law-enforcement system of Administration of President of RK:
- To realize the President’s instructions the financial police activate revealing of corruption among high-rank officials of power. Some criminal cases on corruption are ended and sent to the court, the first leaders of central state bodies and departments are among revealed corrupted officials.

Currently the Parliament discusses the bill supposing toughening of corruption fighting and shade economy.

Alexander Kelchevskiy, head of OSCE center in Astana:
- It is necessary to note the Republic of Kazakhstan took some measures in sphere of corruption fighting and anti-corruption base was founded. According to the decree of the President of RK, Code of honor of state employee and state program of corruption fighting for 2006-2010 are ratified. We also welcome the initiatives of Republic of Kazakhstan expanding of forms of international cooperation of law enforcement bodies.

Suggestions and recommendations will be included into agenda of international conference that is to be held his September in Astana. Its theme will be “Corruption fighting as condition of social and economic development of Eastern Europe and Central Asia”.