Legislation regulating anti-corruption matters

16 September 2024

Corruption (from Latin corrumpere – to spoil) has undoubtedly been one of the most detrimental phenomena at various stages of societal development.

Currently, a balanced system for combating corruption has been established in the Republic of Belarus at all management levels and in various sectors of economic activity. This system is based on the national model of state development and complies with international standards. The effectiveness of the measures taken by the Republic of Belarus to counter corruption, and their adequacy in relation to the evolving situation, are also recognized by the international community.

The legal basis for anti-corruption activities in the country is the Law of the Republic of Belarus of July 15, 2015 "On Combating Corruption" (hereinafter referred to as the Law), which came into force in January 2016. The Law retains the core anti-corruption norms that have proven effective. Its main innovations are aimed at introducing preventive mechanisms that minimize the motivation for committing corrupt acts and eliminate prerequisites for corrupt behavior.

In particular, this includes the prohibition of employing individuals who have previously committed a grave or especially grave crime against the interests of service as civil servants, regardless of whether their criminal record has been expunged. It also includes the deprivation of pension benefits in case of committing grave or especially grave crimes during public service, which involve the abuse of official powers by an official.

A civil law mechanism has been introduced for the court-ordered seizure of property for which no evidence of acquisition from legal income is provided. The list of income and property information subject to declaration by high-ranking officials has been expanded.

The Law also provides for the introduction of public control into the anti-corruption system. Forms of public control include the participation of citizens and public associations in the development and discussion of draft normative legal acts in the sphere of combating corruption, in the activities of commissions for combating corruption established in state bodies and organizations, in meetings of collegiums of state bodies, and in conducting sociological surveys.

In addition to the Law, issues of combating corruption are regulated by the following main normative legal acts:

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 15.12.2014 No. 5
"On Strengthening Requirements for Managers and Employees of Organizations";

Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus;

Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses;

Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus;

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 14.06.2003 "On Public Service in the Republic of Belarus";

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 04.01.2014 "On the Fundamentals of Crime Prevention Activities";

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 13.07.2012
"On Public Procurement of Goods (Works, Services)";

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 17.12.2007 No. 644 "On Approval of the Regulation on the Coordination Meeting for Combating Crime and Corruption";

Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 26.12.2011 No. 1732 "On Approval of the Standard Regulation on the Commission for Combating Corruption";

Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 16.01.2016 No. 19 "On Certain Issues of Declaration of Income and Property by Public Servants and Other Categories of Persons";

other normative legal acts.

Prosecutor's Office of Gluboksky District