Dr Angela Reitmaier, Member of the Executive Committee of Transparency International Deutschland e.V./ Expert on international anti-corruption agreements (4th from right), Prof Dr Marat Bashimov, member of the Parliament of the Republic Kazakhstan (3rd from right) and Altynai Myrzabekova, Staff member responsible for Kazakhstan at the international secretariat of Transparency International (2nd from right). Kazakhstan
A new anti-corruption law is currently being intensively debated in the Majlis, the lower house of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The political debates continue to highlight the need for further support from IRZ in this area of law.
Against this backdrop, in August 2025, following its consultations with the Anti-Corruption Agency – which had been integrated into the National Security Council's anti-corruption service in June 2025 – IRZ organised a study trip with expert discussions in Berlin. This involved representatives of the Kazakh Parliament, the presidential administration, the Agency for Public Service Affairs and others. The aim was to share German experiences and best practices in effective anti-corruption and prevention, and to analyse relevant legislative initiatives and practices in dialogue with German colleagues.
During the three-day study trip, the Kazakh delegates held expert discussions at the German Bundestag, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office and Transparency International on party financing, the legal basis for combating corruption and the need for civil society involvement in the fight against corruption. Particular attention was paid to issues such as the liability of not only private individuals but also legal entities for acts of corruption in the banking sector, in the economy and in companies, as well as the provisions of German criminal law relating to bribery and favouritism towards public officials. The discussion focused on German guidelines in the public service and quasi-public sectors, as well as criminal and administrative liability for promising bribes.
Participants of the Anti-Vorruption seminar in Astana (9th from right Public Prosecutor Wolf-Tilman Baumert, 8th from right Public Prosecutor Markus Menzel); Copyright: Anti-Corruption Agency Kazakhstan Kazakhstan
Corruption is a threat to the rule of law and hinders both economic growth and political reform. Kazakhstan has recognised this and is making serious efforts to remedy the problem. The 2024 report by the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) confirms that Kazakhstan has partially implemented its recommendations and that Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for Kazakhstan has risen by one point to a total of 40 points compared to the previous year. The CPI scale starts at 0 (high level of perceived corruption) and ends at 100 (no perceived corruption). However, compared to top-ranked countries (Denmark: 90 points, Finland: 88 points) or Germany with 75 points, it is also clear why the fight against corruption remains an important priority on the country's political agenda and requires more decisive action by the Kazakh authorities.
Since 2009, the IRZ has maintained close contact with its partner institutions in the Republic of Kazakhstan with the aim of promoting the rule of law and the independence and efficiency of the judiciary in the country. In order to contribute to the fight against corruption, it has also been working since 2023 with the Anti-Corruption Agency, which was only established in 2019.
Together with the Anti-Corruption Agency, the IRZ organised a seminar in Astana from 13 to 15 May 2025, which was aimed at representatives of the Anti-Corruption Agency. Two German public prosecutors from the Wuppertal Special Public Prosecutor's Office for Corruption Offences discussed numerous practical cases and provided in-depth insights into German strategies for preventing and combating corruption. In addition, important topics such as dealing with conflicts of interest, lifting immunities and combating influence were discussed in detail. The seminar proved to be a useful platform for the exchange of experience between Kazakh and German colleagues in the field of anti-corruption and contributed to strengthening the professional skills of all participants.
Participants during the working visit to the Ministry of Justice of North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf. In the middle: Prof Dr Marat Bashimov, member of the parliament of the Republic Kazakhstan, 2nd from left: Dr Christian Reitemeier, Deputy Head of the Department for Civil Law, Public Law and International Affairs at the Ministry of Justice of North Rhine-Westphalia. Kazakhstan
The IRZ supports its Kazakh partners in implementing the development strategy ‘Kazakhstan 2030/2050’. Among other things, the legal policy concept contained in this strategy aims to further strengthen the rule of law and develop democracy in Kazakhstan. Within the framework of this concept, the IRZ has identified administrative court jurisdiction as a priority area for its work in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Back in August 2024, the IRZ organised expert talks in Germany on consolidating administrative court jurisdiction in Kazakhstan. Following on from this, in April 2025 it welcomed representatives of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Düsseldorf, Bonn and Mainz. The aim was to promote an exchange of experience between Kazakh and German colleagues in order to place Kazakh legislation on administrative court jurisdiction on a new, modern footing based on the rule of law.
At the start of the study trip, the delegation was welcomed by the Minister of Justice, Dr Benjamin Limbach, at the Ministry of Justice of North Rhine-Westphalia, and then exchanged views on mediation in administrative matters and the system of pre-court appeal proceedings. This was followed by an exchange on alternative dispute resolution in administrative law in Bonn and finally insights into the work and functioning of the City Law Committee, the Ombudsman of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate and the Commissioner for the State Police in Mainz.
The experiences gained during the visit will be compiled in academic articles and publications for the Kazakh public, and proposals for amendments and additions to certain legal acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan will be submitted.
