Majilis Deputy Proposes Travel Ban for Corrupt Officials

Majilis deputy, Azat Peruashev, has once again highlighted the need to ban travel abroad for corrupt officials. During discussions on a new anti-corruption bill, he pointed out that transferring money to offshore accounts continues to be a significant issue for Kazakhstan, Orda.kz reports.

The deputy emphasized travel restrictions in Kazakhstan, even for ordinary citizens. 

For example, a notary may limit someone with utility service debts from traveling abroad. Entrepreneurs face similar bans, even if they owe only 50-60 thousand tenge in taxes.

Corrupt officials often move their money to offshore zones, making it nearly impossible to track down. Sometimes, even our agencies, like the FMA, can’t pinpoint how much money is hidden there or where it’s located. Despite the risk of being caught, these individuals continue to gamble, facing sentences only to later get paroled or pay fines and walk away, and return to their billions — money they could not have earned honestly,  the deputy stated.

Peruashev recalled that the Aq Jol faction has proposed introducing a legislative ban on corrupt officials leaving the country since 2017.

If they stay here, they will be forced to return the stolen money to be able to use it. Unfortunately, government agencies have not supported this amendment over the years, he pointed out. 

According to the deputy, while the Prosecutor General’s Office supported the initiative, the Ministry of Justice and other agencies opposed it, which postponed the adoption of the amendment. 

Peruashev approached an Anti-Corruption Agency representative to ask about supporting this measure within the new bill's framework.

Ulan Sarkulov, the agency's first deputy chair, could not give a direct answer but mentioned that they are currently working on asset recovery and stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach. 

We must consider any regulations, and if necessary, we will support and implement them. However, any decision requires discussion and coordination with other agencies, he said.

In response, Peruashev pointed out that general discussions wouldn't solve the problem.

When a corrupt official is found guilty by the court, he is given eight years, and he gets out in two years and goes to his billions. Until they ban travel abroad, they will continue to look for loopholes. This is the most effective measure, and it is time to make specific decisions,  the deputy said.

Sarkulov assured that the issue will be discussed within the framework of established procedures, noting that the agency is ready to consider the proposed initiatives: 

Original Author: Artem Volkov