Countering corruption is one of the priority areas of the state policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The legislation provides for various types of legal liability for committing corruption and corruption-related offenses, aimed at ensuring legality, transparency of the activities of state bodies, and strengthening public trust in the civil service.
Corruption offenses are recognized as unlawful acts containing signs of corruption and entailing liability established by law. These include receiving and giving a bribe, mediation in bribery, abuse of official powers, misappropriation or embezzlement of entrusted property, illegal participation in entrepreneurial activities, and other acts provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
For committing corruption and corruption-related offenses, the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan provides for the following types of liability:
Disciplinary liability is applied for violating the requirements of the legislation on civil service, anti-corruption restrictions, and official discipline. Disciplinary measures may include a remark, reprimand, severe reprimand, warning of incomplete official compliance, demotion, or dismissal on appropriate grounds.
Administrative liability arises for administrative offenses related to non-compliance with the requirements of anti-corruption legislation and is expressed in the application of administrative penalties, including fines and other measures provided for by law.
Criminal liability is applied for committing corruption crimes provided for by the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Such crimes include receiving and giving a bribe, mediation in bribery, abuse of official powers, misappropriation or embezzlement of property using official position, and other corruption crimes. Depending on the severity of the committed act, guilty persons may be sentenced to a fine, restriction of freedom, deprivation of freedom, confiscation of property, as well as lifelong deprivation of the right to hold positions in the civil service and in the public sector in cases provided for by law.
Civil servants are obliged to comply with the requirements of anti-corruption legislation, the Code of Ethics of Civil Servants, take timely measures to prevent and resolve conflicts of interest, conscientiously perform official duties, and avoid actions that could damage the authority of the civil service.
The inevitability of liability for corruption offenses is one of the fundamental principles of the anti-corruption policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and contributes to the formation of an atmosphere of intolerance towards corruption, strengthening legality, and increasing citizens' trust in state bodies.