CONFLICT OF INTEREST MUST BE RESOLVED!

According to the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Combating Corruption" (hereinafter referred to as the Law), a situation where the personal interests of a public official, their spouse, close relatives or in-laws influence or may influence the proper performance by the public official of their official (labor) duties when making or participating in a decision, or performing other official (work) actions, is a conflict of interest.

   For example, a public official is a member of an attestation commission that makes a decision regarding their relative.

In the course of performing official duties, a person may independently detect a conflict of interest or its possibility. In such a case, notifying their immediate supervisor is an obligation, the non-fulfillment of which entails responsibility in accordance with legislative acts, including disciplinary responsibility up to dismissal from the position held (termination of employment) in the manner established by legislative acts
(Part 1, 6 of Art. 21 of the Law).

Notification must be in writing. There is no specific form of notification. It can be drawn up in any form, for example, in the form of a report memo, application, etc.

The head of a public body (organization) who has received information about a conflict of interest or its probability is obliged to take immediate measures to prevent or resolve the conflict (Part 2 of Art. 21 of the Law on Combating Corruption).

The list of such measures is determined by legislation. It is not exhaustive. Thus, the following are possible (Part 3 of Art. 21 of the Law):

- written recommendations to the public official on taking measures to prevent or resolve a conflict of interest;

- suspension of the public official from official (work) actions that cause or may cause a conflict of interest;

- transfer of the public official to another equivalent position;

- assignment to perform previous official duties at a new workplace or temporary change

of the duties of a public official.