On the work done to combat corruption in the Vitebsk region in 2016

Through the joint efforts of all interested departments in the region, a significant number of the most dangerous manifestations of corruption – corruption-related crimes – are identified and suppressed annually.

In accordance with the current Procedure for forming information on corruption crimes in the Vitebsk region, 168 corruption crimes were recorded in 12 months of 2016, which is 9 crimes less than in 2015.

The proportion of corruption crimes in the total number of registered crimes in the region is 1.5% (a total of 10,855 crimes were registered in the region). For the republic as a whole, the proportion of this type of crime was 1.7%.

Bribery and embezzlement through abuse of official powers prevail among corruption crimes.

The largest number of crimes in this category were registered in the city of Vitebsk (43), Orsha district and the city of Orsha (32), Polotsk district (24).

By sectors and spheres of activity, the largest number of corruption crimes in the analyzed period were registered in trade – 32, in transport – 28, in agricultural production – 26 crimes. 9 corruption crimes were committed in public administration, 5 crimes by law enforcement officers.

132 persons were brought to criminal liability (in 2015 – 85), against whom court sentences entered into legal force or cases were terminated on non-rehabilitating grounds, i.e., with the recognition of the corpus delicti.

Including, the following were brought to justice: the head of local authorities

authorities, 4 law enforcement officers, 63 persons holding positions related to the performance of organizational and administrative functions (including 30 heads of legal entities), 33 persons holding positions related to the performance of administrative and economic functions.

By the verdict of the judicial board for criminal cases of the Vitebsk Regional Court, a guilty verdict was rendered against officials (deputy general director, head of department, head of division) of OJSC "Naftan", who were found guilty of committing crimes provided for by Part 3 of Article 424, Parts 2 and 3 of Article 430 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.

The accused caused damage to OJSC "Naftan" in a particularly large amount (fully compensated during the investigation) totaling over 46 billion rubles (excluding denomination). In addition, they received bribes totaling 247,000 euros.

Analysis of the causes and conditions of corruption offenses shows that the most common reasons for their commission remain mercenary motives - the desire of officials for personal enrichment, illegal acquisition of material assets, as well as the desire of officials to conceal shortcomings and omissions in work, to avoid material and disciplinary responsibility, to create an appearance of economic well-being, to fulfill assigned work indicators, etc. A low level of labor and production discipline in the organization, and the absence of a proper system of control by its managers over the official activities of subordinate employees also contribute significantly to the commission of crimes.

In total, in 2016, the region's prosecutor's offices conducted over 120 inspections on the implementation of anti-corruption legislation, resulting in 464 supervisory acts, 9 criminal cases initiated, and over 300 persons brought to various types of liability. At the request of prosecutors, damages totaling over 47 thousand rubles were compensated.

During supervisory activities, violations of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On" were established directly."fight against corruption", as well as other legislation aimed at preventing corruption and minimizing corruption risks.

Thus, violations were identified in the part of organizing work to combat corruption, ensuring the safety of property of state enterprises, enterprises with a significant share of the state in the authorized capital, facts of improper performance by personnel services of state bodies and organizations of financial control over persons required to declare their income and property, as well as control over compliance with legal prohibitions established to differentiate official (labor) duties and personal, group and other non-official interests of state officials and persons equated to them.

In order to prevent negative consequences in the procurement sector, identify violations of the procedure for posting information about procurement, facts of incorrect selection of specific procurement procedures, violation of the procedure for concluding contracts based on procurement results, prosecutors have ensured constant monitoring of the "Tenders" Information System.

At the request of prosecutors, the results of procurement procedures conducted in violation of the law for a total amount of 15 billion undenominated rubles (both budgetary funds and funds of state enterprises) were canceled. Prosecutors ensured savings of budget funds in the amount of more than 1.6 billion undenominated rubles.

In October of the current year, an inspection was organized and conducted to comply with the requirements of legislation aimed at preventing corruption risks in procurement fully or partially at the expense of local budgets. In most districts of the region, a number of significant violations of the law were identified. Based on the results of the named inspection, prosecutors of cities and districts submitted 18 submissions, 13 orders, and issued 20 official warnings.

The regional prosecutor's office has prepared a generalized submission on eliminating violations of anti-corruption legislation in the procurement sector to the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, as well as summaries on the indicated issues for prosecutors and law enforcement agencies.areas. As a result of the specified inspection, at the request of prosecutors, 42 individuals were brought to disciplinary responsibility, and 4 – to administrative.

Overall, the analysis indicates a sufficiently high level of effectiveness of the region's law enforcement agencies in combating corruption. At the same time, there are certain shortcomings and omissions, the elimination of which will be the main focus of the Vitebsk region prosecutor's office in 2017.

Department of the Vitebsk Region Prosecutor's Office
for Combating Corruption
and Organized Crime