Fighting Corruption in Kazakhstan by Force of Criminal Law

Abstract

The anti-corruption component of Kazakhstan's state development has been elevated to the rank of state policy. Despite the comprehensive fight against corruption, Kazakhstan, having achieved progressive and radical changes in legislation during the years of independence, has not yet managed to achieve significant results in the fight against corruption. The current increase in the number of corruption-related criminal offences, including those committed by high-ranking officials and directors of a number of Kazakh companies, is due to a stronger political will on the part of the head of state to decisively confront corruption. This intention allows attention to be given to criminal law measures, which occupy an important place in the complex of measures to combat the systemic vice of the state, which threatens national security. This study focuses on assessing possible adjustments to Kazakhstan's criminal law to strengthen the fight against corruption through criminal law measures. The potential of criminal law in anti-corruption policy has not been exhausted. In the author's opinion, the proposed changes allow us to hope that they will ultimately serve the useful purpose of Kazakhstan's anti-corruption policy as well as open the ground for an informed discussion on the further fight against corruption.