"The strategy "Kazakhstan-2050": A new political course of an established state" elevates corruption to the rank of a direct threat to national security and aims the state and society to unite efforts in the fight against this negative phenomenon.

The main strategic document of our country, reflecting Kazakhstan's principled position on this important issue, serves as the basis for the state's anti-corruption policy in the coming years.

It is well known that corruption leads to a decrease in the efficiency of public administration, the investment attractiveness of the country, and hinders progressive socio-economic development.

Since the first days of state independence, Kazakhstan has been purposefully and gradually following the course of creating effective institutions and mechanisms for combating corruption that meet international standards.

Modern anti-corruption legislation is in force in our country, based on the laws "On Combating Corruption" and "On Public Service", a number of program documents are being implemented, a special authorized body has been formed that comprehensively implements functions in the field of public service and anti-corruption, international cooperation in the field of anti-corruption activities is actively carried out.

Based on the principles of meritocracy, in which leadership positions are occupied by capable and professionally trained people, regardless of their social origin and property status, a public service system has been formed, including with a clear delineation and definition of the functions and powers of each body and official of the state.

Comprehensive measures have been taken to develop the sphere of public services and informatize the work of the state apparatus, reducing direct contacts between officials and citizens and minimizing conditions for corruption phenomena.

The measures taken to improve the standard of living of citizens, the growth of the national economy, improve business conditions, legal literacy and social activity of the population, the introduction of e-government, which allowed Kazakhstan to become one of the 50 most competitive countries in the world, also create prerequisites for the formation of a culture of law-abiding and generally accepted anti-corruption behaviors.

At the same time, solving strategic tasks for further economic growth, improving the welfare of the people, and realizing the ambitious task of becoming one of the thirty most competitive countries in the world requires the adoption of new systemic measures based on the modernization of the anti-corruption policy of the state and increasing the role of civil society institutions in its implementation, which would minimize corruption manifestations as much as possible.

In this regard, at this stage there is a need to adopt a new policy document of the state defining the anti–corruption strategy (hereinafter referred to as the Strategy or Anti-Corruption Strategy).

In such a document, the leading role should be given to comprehensive preventive measures that can radically reduce the level of corruption, eliminate the causes and conditions that give rise to it in various spheres of state and society. In other words, the focus should be on eliminating the prerequisites of corruption, rather than on combating its consequences.

Improving the competitiveness of the national economy also implies the priority of measures to eliminate administrative barriers to business development, effective protection of the rights and legitimate interests of domestic and foreign entrepreneurs working in Kazakhstan from any corruption manifestations.

In general, such a Strategy should cover the main spheres of life of the state and society, provide for the development and implementation of a set of versatile and consistent anti-corruption measures and, thereby, ensure maximum reduction of corruption at all levels of government, as well as in the private sector, and form an intolerant attitude of Kazakhstani citizens to this social evil.

At the same time, the basic directions determined by the Strategy cannot be data once and for all. They should be adjusted as individual measures are implemented and taking into account the results of an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of corruption, its causes, motivation for corrupt behavior, and a serious and objective assessment of the state of affairs in the fight against corruption.



2. Analysis of the current situation



2.1. Positive trends in the field of anti-corruption

At the previous stages of the development of the Kazakh state, generally recognized results were achieved, there were obvious positive trends in combating corruption, the strengthening and development of which will be the key to the successful implementation of this Anti-Corruption Strategy at the present stage of the country's development.

Kazakhstan was one of the first in the CIS to adopt the Law "On Combating Corruption", which defined the goals, objectives, basic principles and mechanisms for combating this negative phenomenon.

Since 2001, State anti-corruption programs have been implemented, within the framework of which specific measures are being taken to eliminate the causes and conditions of corruption manifestations.

The Law "On Civil Service" in force since 1999 and the Code of Honor of Civil Servants approved by the Head of State in 2005 created the basis for the formation of a professional state apparatus in Kazakhstan based on the principles of accountability, transparency and meritocracy.

A special state body has been created that combines regulatory and law enforcement functions in the field of public service and anti-corruption. It is designed not only to regulate the organization and passage of public service and monitoring the cleanliness of the state apparatus, but also has the function of preventing and preventing corruption, as well as criminal prosecution of persons who have committed corruption crimes.

At the same time, preventive and preventive activities are a priority for the newly created body.

The principle of inevitability of punishment is being successfully implemented. Officials convicted of committing acts of corruption, regardless of their positions and ranks, are responsible to the fullest extent of the law.

The criminal law policy ensures strict liability of officials for committing corruption crimes.

The need for severe liability for corruption crimes is provided for by the Concept of the Legal Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the period from 2010 to 2020.

This principled approach is implemented in the new Criminal Code. Thus, the statute of limitations will not apply to persons who have committed corruption crimes, a ban on probation has been established, and a lifetime ban on the right to hold positions in public service has been introduced.

The anti-corruption legislation has been supplemented with norms on confiscation of property obtained by criminal means, personal responsibility of managers for combating corruption. It enshrines such an important concept as "conflict of interest".

At the same time, along with strengthening the responsibility of civil servants, their social guarantees are also being improved.

The gradual, regular increase in salaries of the state apparatus is designed to improve the social well-being of civil servants and create conditions for them to perform their duties on an honest and fair basis.

The State program for further modernization of the law enforcement system for the period up to 2020 and the Concept of Personnel Policy of Law Enforcement agencies provide for measures aimed at increasing the level of trust in law enforcement agencies, the formation of personnel distinguished by impeccable behavior and a high level of competence.

Special attention is paid to increasing confidence in the judicial system, strengthening its role in protecting the rights and legitimate interests of citizens. Measures have been taken to improve the mechanism for the formation of the judicial corps, the development of electronic court proceedings, and increase its transparency and accessibility.

Access to information has been expanded everywhere, which has been facilitated by measures to form e-government, as well as Internet resources of public and private structures.

Conditions have been created for citizens to freely inform about the facts of corruption, including through hotlines and websites of government agencies.

In order to enhance the investment attractiveness of the country and increase its competitiveness, administrative barriers are being eliminated that make it difficult for business activities and for the population to receive high-quality and fast public services.

With the adoption of the Law "On Public Services" and the Law "On Permits and Notifications", conditions have been created to improve the quality of public services provided, and the number of permits and licensed activities has been sharply reduced.

A system for evaluating the effectiveness and external quality control of public services has been formed.

The result of the work carried out was an annual decrease in the number of violations of the deadlines for the provision of public services (by 8.7 times compared to 2012) and complaints about the quality of their provision (by 25%), as well as an increase in the share of automated services (by more than 2 times) and services provided through public service centers (by 51%).

The level of automation of public procurement is increasing, which contributes to the formation of a competitive environment, transparent and efficient use of budget funds.

Favorable conditions have been created in the non-governmental sector of the economy for conducting business, employment and ensuring employment of the population.

In general, the adoption of these measures allowed Kazakhstan to take one of the leading positions in terms of anti-corruption activities both in the Central Asian region and among the CIS countries.



2.2. Problems to be solved