Kazakhstan: Talking About a Bribe Could Become Punishable

Kazakhstan is discussing expanding its anti-corruption legislation by proposing that even offering a bribe is a punishable offense, Orda reports.

The Majilis recently reviewed two draft laws that would amend existing anti-corruption and administrative offense codes.

The bill provides for the introduction of criminal liability for consent to receive a bribe, a request or demand for a bribe, as well as for the promise or offer of a bribe. This means that any mention of a bribe will have criminal consequences. I support this approach, but I am interested in how the actual intent of a person for new types of crimes will be proven in practice. After all, in judicial and investigative practice, cases related to bribery are considered difficult to prove crimes. Will this not lead to the unjustified prosecution of our citizens? asked deputy Nikolai Arsyutin.

In response to concerns about potential overreach, Ulan Sarkulov, First Deputy Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Agency, emphasized that law enforcement would take a measured approach.

Bringing to justice, here I would like to immediately note that this is primarily a preventive effect. There will never be a general prosecution here. We looked at international practice, there are literally isolated facts. Most of all, these are preventive measures - here it should also be noted that there are issues of supervision by the prosecutor's office, the court. That is, a preventive issue, answered Sarkulov.

Original Author: Ilya Astakhov