The ongoing fight against corruption

Details: Published: June 17, 2025

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.