The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) published today its Joint First and Second Round Evaluation Report on Kazakhstan.
Corruption in Kazakhstan is a serious concern, touching upon different sectors, institutions, public and private spheres. The establishment of the Anti-Corruption Agency is a positive development, and so is the adoption of dedicated strategies and initiatives with a greater prevention focus. However, much more should be done to promote and ensure a sufficiently broad participation of various sectors, whether public or private, and of the larger civil society.
GRECO stresses that the principles of pluralist democracy, rule of law and protection of human rights are fundamental safeguards for the effective prevention and combating of corruption. The far-reaching presidential powers in the fields of judiciary, prosecution, and law enforcement, risk making the anti-corruption framework vulnerable to undue influence. A thorough revision of the current system of immunities must follow to ensure that it does not extend beyond what is proportionate and necessary in a democratic society.
The report calls for increased transparency in public administration and decision-making processes, including by resorting to broader and meaningful public consultation and by improving access to information. Merit-based and clear procedures on recruitments and promotions must be introduced. Further, rules on integrity in public service need to be spelled out in detail and made appliable to all public functions, whether political appointees or contracted employees. Decisive improvements are also required regarding whistle-blower protection and public procurement, in particular given that the use of public funds is one of the areas most exposed to corruption.
In the private sector, key reforms have been introduced in recent years to cut red tape and stimulate economic growth; however, these need to be coupled with proper accountability and oversight mechanisms to prevent organised crime from flourishing in the country. GRECO acknowledges progress made in combating money laundering and establishing legislation on seizure and confiscation but calls for the active involvement of professionals, such as tax inspectors, accountants, auditors, and lawyers, in unveiling corruption. Finally, corporate liability has yet to be introduced and a register of ultimate beneficial ownership must be established.
The report as a whole addresses 27 recommendations to Kazakhstan. GRECO will assess the implementation of these recommendations at the end of 2023 through its specific compliance procedure.
* unofficial translations, as provided by the Kazakh authorities
