President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with the heads of state bodies on anti-corruption issues.
The President outlined the key areas of anti-corruption policy. The first task that he meted out is protection of the citizens’ rights.
“No one can be above law. The first leaders, both in the center and locally, will be liable for their subordinates’ corruption.The next measure, he said, should be strengthening of the constructive partnership of the state with the civil society institutions. In this regard, the President gave specific instructions aimed at the formation of zero tolerance in the society for any acts of corruption.The third task is to strengthen social control. Tokayev demanded to ensure transparency of state decision-making and involve non-governmental organizations in anti-corruption expertise of legal acts at all levels.As the fourth task, he outlined the increased transparency of fiscal policy.
"It is necessary to toughen the responsibility and accountability of civil servants for the implementation of state programs and the use of budget funds. Offenses related to the misuse or embezzlement of people's funds will be harshly stopped," said Tokayev.He called the increase of the regions’ part in the anti-corruption policy the fifth area of the work.The sixth task is to speed up digitization of public services, which is one of the most important conditions for eradicating petty corruption.The final, seventh task is to improve the public procurement system and reduce administrative pressure on business.
“If we really want to eradicate corruption, then, in my opinion, the heads of state bodies should resign in the event of corruption crimes committed by their subordinates This is my vision of anti-corruption course of power in the mid-term,” President concluded.
