City authorities reject offers of presents
In the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, the Anti-Corruption Service has issued a reminder to civil servants about the regulations surrounding gift-giving and public appearances. The policy on gift-giving is primarily governed by Kazakhstan's anti-corruption laws, which prohibit public officials from accepting gifts that may influence their official duties.
Public officials are forbidden from accepting gifts that could be perceived as a bribe, favor, or cause for conflict of interest. Gifts of nominal value that do not influence official decisions are typically allowed, but any gift exceeding a low monetary threshold must be declared or is prohibited. The exact rules on permissible gift types, values, and disclosure requirements are set by Kazakhstan's laws on combating corruption and public service conduct, which apply nationwide, including Almaty.
Penalties for violating these gift-giving regulations can be severe. Administrative fines can be imposed on officials or entities involved in illegal gift exchanges. Disciplinary actions such as suspension or dismissal from public service are also possible. In cases of bribery, civil servants can face heavy fines, imprisonment, or both.
While the specific local regulations for Almaty municipal officials are not detailed in the provided information, the above framework applies throughout Kazakhstan, including Almaty, as part of national anti-corruption legislation and public service ethical standards. Failure to comply with such laws can lead to strict penalties aimed at preventing corruption and maintaining public trust.
Recent statements by Dauren Tauymurat, first deputy head of the city's Department of the Anti-Corruption Agency, and Dauren Arystanbekov, head of the city's Department of State Property and Privatization, suggest that the number of accepted gifts decreases every year. Among the most expensive gifts surrendered so far are Rolex watches worth one million 809 thousand tenge and wireless AirPods.
The Anti-Corruption Service has also issued a warning about New Year corporate events, urging civil servants not to hold corporate events or appear in public places under the influence. Civil servants are required to hand over gifts within a week to avoid being considered an illegal bribe, and perishable gifts are disposed of.
A special fund in Almaty has already received gifts worth 11 million 600 thousand tenge. Most gifts received are souvenirs, alcoholic products, and confectionery. However, the exact number of gifts received or surrendered in the current year, as well as the specific gifts involved, were not provided in the search results.
For precise regulations and penalty scales applicable to officials in Almaty, consulting Kazakhstan's specific anti-corruption statutes, government ethical codes, or legal counsel is recommended. The fine for giving a gift to a civil servant is 555,600 tenge, but the fine for a civil servant who accepts a gift was not specified in the text.
[1] Source: Search results from various Kazakhstan anti-corruption and government websites.
Civil servants in Almaty, Kazakhstan, must abide by national anti-corruption laws that regulate gift-giving, preventing gifts that could influence official duties. Penalties for violating these regulations can be severe, including administrative fines, suspension or dismissal, and imprisonment in cases of bribery. [2] It is important for Almaty's officials to consult Kazakhstan's specific anti-corruption statutes or legal counsel for precise regulations and penalty scales regarding gift-giving.
