Since gaining independence, the Republic of Kazakhstan has consistently pursued a course aimed at establishing an effective system for combating corruption.

Over the years, the country has developed the necessary legislative and institutional framework to prevent corruption, enhance transparency in the activities of state bodies, and strengthen public trust in state institutions.

The ongoing reforms are aimed at building a Just, Clean, and Strong Kazakhstan – a state of equal opportunities, open to talent, initiative, and creative labor.

In the context of global transformation, ensuring transparency in public service and strengthening the principles of integrity are of particular importance.

The Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has repeatedly emphasized the need to eradicate family-clan relations in the public administration system.

One of the most significant steps in this direction has been the constitutional entrenchment of a ban on the close relatives of the President of the country holding positions as political civil servants and heads of quasi-public sector entities.

This provision has become an important political and legal signal of the Head of State's commitment to the principles of openness, fairness, and the inadmissibility of using family ties to gain advantages in public service.

A consistent continuation of the ongoing reforms was the adoption this year of the Law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Combating Corruption."

This legislative act is aimed at further improving corruption prevention mechanisms, eliminating conditions for the emergence of conflicts of interest, and enhancing the effectiveness of personnel processes in the public sector.

One of the key innovations of the law is the introduction of the concept of "Personal Interest." This is understood as the interest of a person holding a responsible state position, a person authorized to perform state functions, a person equated to persons authorized to perform state functions, or an official, in acquiring, obtaining, or deriving benefits, advantages, or privileges of a material and/or non-material nature for themselves, their close relatives, spouse, in-laws, and/or other persons connected with them.

The law also provides for a mechanism for declaring personal interests, the procedure for which is determined by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The introduction of this provision is aimed at enhancing transparency in the activities of civil servants and the timely identification of situations that could affect the objectivity of their decisions.

Particular attention in the law is devoted to the institution of conflict of interest.

For the first time at the legislative level, its main types have been defined: potential, actual, and realized conflict of interest.

Each has been given a legal characterization, and mechanisms for their prevention and resolution have been established.

The legislation defines specific methods for identifying conflicts of interest.

Depending on the nature of the violation, disciplinary and administrative measures are provided, which contributes to increasing the personal accountability of officials for compliance with anti-corruption legislation requirements.

Significant changes have also affected issues of joint service.

Whereas previously restrictions applied primarily to close relatives, spouses, and in-laws, the legislator has now expanded this list to also include connected persons.

The innovations related to the digitalization of personnel processes deserve special attention.

In the context of the country's large-scale digital transformation, modern technologies are becoming an important tool for ensuring transparency and objectivity in personnel decisions.

The law establishes the legal framework for the functioning of a digital personnel system in state institutions and quasi-public sector entities, and also defines the procedure for conducting personnel processes within it.

Coordination of activities in this area has been entrusted to the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Civil Service Affairs.

The adopted legislative changes are a logical continuation of Kazakhstan's ongoing policy to strengthen the principles of legality, integrity, and meritocracy.

The formation of effective mechanisms for preventing conflicts of interest, the expansion of restrictions on joint service, the introduction of the personal interest declaration institution, and the development of digital personnel systems create additional guarantees for transparency in public administration and contribute to further strengthening citizens' trust in state institutions.

The implementation of these measures will not only enhance the effectiveness of corruption prevention but also foster a qualitatively new culture of public service based on professionalism, responsibility, and the unconditional priority of public interests over personal gain.

Zarina ALPYSBAYEVA,
Senior Prosecutor of the Department
for Coordination of Legislative Activities,
Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic
of Kazakhstan