Kazakhstan joined the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). The agreement signing ceremony took place not long ago at the Council of Europe.
According to the Kazakhstan Anti-Corruption Agency, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni highly praised Kazakhstan’s achievements in this field.
“I am proud of the achievements of Kazakhstan and the willingness to effectively cooperate with the GRECO member countries,” said Dragoni. “We will look forward to the next steps, including your country’s accession to the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption.”
In turn, the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Agency Alik Shpekbaev noted that Kazakhstan’s accession to GRECO clearly demonstrates the Republic’s intentions to improve anti-corruption measures.
“Cooperation with GRECO demonstrates the commitment of our country, as a full member of the UN Convention against corruption, to the fundamental principles of the Council of Europe,” said Shpekbaev. “Joining GRECO paves the way for us to adopt the best European practices in the fight against corruption.”
Following the meeting, the Executive Secretary of GRECO Gianluca Esposito noted that there is only one little thing left – Kazakhstan should ratify the relevant agreement, which provides for immunities of representatives of GRECO and members of assessment groups from personal arrest, detention and confiscation of baggage, prosecution for oral and written statements.
The Anti-Corruption Department of Kazakhstan explained that such a procedure is standard in the international field.
“Kazakh experts, who on behalf of GRECO will also be involved in the assessment processes of other countries, are endowed with the same immunity,” the department notes. “Joining GRECO opens up the possibility of ratification of the Criminal Law Convention on corruption. In the future, this will strengthen cooperation with European countries on the provision of legal assistance, extradition of criminals and the return of property illegally acquired by them, and will create the basis for the participation of Kazakhstan law enforcement officials in operational investigative activities conducted on international investigative orders in the territory of European states.”
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