The European Union is to assist in the return of assets withdrawn from Kazakhstan

The meeting of Chairman Olzhas Bektenov with the EU delegation  was held at the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The meeting was  headed by the Special Representative for Central Asia Teri Hakala.

During the meeting, the head of the Anticorruption Committee briefed the participants on the key areas of the Anti-Corruption Policy Framework for 2022-2026.

Especially, the parties discussed the introduction of legal liability for illicit enrichment and universal declaration of income and expenses. Issues of business protection were also discussed.

European colleagues positively assessed the focus of the country's anti-corruption policy. They also emphasized the desire of Kazakh authorities to comply with international anti-corruption standards and best practices of GRECO.

European colleagues also highlighted Kazakhstan's preparation for accession to the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption as an important vector of development. Kazakhstan received the invitation to join the council on July 1 this year.

“I would like to emphasize the Agency's openness and readiness in matters of interaction with European partners. For our part, we are ready to support requests for the return of assets withdrawn from Kazakhstan to Europe”- T. Hakala said.

A separate topic of discussion was the investigation of cases involving allegations of torture in connection with the January events. “At the moment, 171 cases have been completed. Investigations are ongoing for other 177 cases. The present investigations are ongoing in accordance with all the requirements of the Istanbul Protocol ”- O. Bektenov reported.

The Agency for Communications of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan is ready to provide all the necessary information concerning this subject to the global community.