Problematic issues of corruption manifestations were discussed in Budapest

The event, which is an integral part of the project "Combating Corruption and Money Laundering. Promoting Good Governance," was attended by representatives from Germany, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and the Republic of Belarus.

During the seminar, lawyers shared national best practices in establishing legislative mechanisms for countering corruption manifestations and discussed topical issues of applying anti-corruption legislation in practice.

Belarus was represented by A.G. Borovsky, Senior Prosecutor of the General Prosecutor's Office, A.V. Kovalevsky, Head of Department of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties, and E.A. Lapkovsky, Head of Department of the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office. In their presentations, they noted, in particular, that corruption in our country is recognized as one of the threats to national security, and therefore all branches of government and civil society are focused on effectively countering this phenomenon.

A balanced system for combating corruption has been formed in the republic at all management levels and in economic sectors, which is based on the national model of state development and complies with international standards.

The legal regulation of anti-corruption activities is currently based on the Constitution, a number of legislative acts, as well as international treaties. For example, anti-corruption norms are provided for in the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Offences, the Civil Code and the Labour Code, the laws "On Public Service in the Republic of Belarus," "On Measures to Prevent the Legalization of Proceeds from Crime, Financing of Terrorism and Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction," "On Public Procurement of Goods (Works, Services)," etc.

The basis of anti-corruption legislation is the Law "On Combating Corruption", which entered into force at the end of January of the current year. This is the fourth anti-corruption law since the formation of our state.

Previous laws on combating corruption have shown their effectiveness, which is confirmed by the absence of systemic manifestations of corruption in the republic. At the same time, fulfilling its international obligations, as well as considering the need to respond to new corruption factors and threats, the Republic of Belarus is taking measures to further improve anti-corruption legislation.

It is the prosecutor's offices that are entrusted with the responsibility for organizing the fight against corruption and coordinating the activities in this area of all state bodies and organizations, and civil society institutions.

The reports by representatives of Belarus on the main novelties of the "new" Law "On Combating Corruption", which are aimed at introducing preventive mechanisms designed to minimize the "attractiveness" of committing corrupt acts and eliminate prerequisites for corrupt behavior, aroused genuine interest among the seminar participants.

In particular, a ban has been introduced on the employment of employees who have previously committed a grave or especially grave crime against the interests of service or associated with the use of official powers by an official, as civil servants, which is independent of the fact of expungement of the conviction, i.e., it is of indefinite duration.

In order to expand the legal consequences of bringing to criminal responsibility, a mechanism for depriving the right to pension provision provided for by legislation on public service has been established.

Separately, Belarusian prosecutors focused on highlighting the civil law mechanism for confiscation of property by court decision, for which no evidence of its acquisition from legal income has been provided, which has been introduced into national legislation for the first time.

To strengthen control over the expenses of high-ranking officials, the new Law expands the list of information on income and

имуществе, подлежащих декларированию такими должностными лицами.

Предусмотрены иные механизмы, которые предоставляют возможность ежегодно контролировать состояние активов должностных лиц, а в случае их внезапного увеличения - обеспечить реальную возможность проверки пояснений об источниках доходов. Это обязанность давать пояснения об источниках доходов, декларировать сведения о долях в уставных фондах и акциях хозяйственных товариществ и обществ независимо от их стоимости.

Еще одной законодательной новеллой является дополнение системы мер по борьбе с коррупцией общественным контролем в виде  участия граждан и общественных объединений в разработке и обсуждении проектов нормативных правовых актов в сфере борьбы с коррупцией, участия в деятельности созданных в государственных органах и организациях комиссий по противодействию коррупции, заседаниях коллегий государственных органов, проведения  социологических опросов.

В свою очередь представители других государств поделились своим опытом, приобретенным с учетом специфики представляемых ими органов.

В частности, от Украины были приглашены должностные лица как «привычного» нам МВД, так и таких относительно новых образований как Антикоррупционное бюро и Агентство по предупреждению коррупции.

О новациях в реализации антикоррупционной политики в Армении рассказал один из пяти членов Комиссии по этике высших должностных лиц, в компетенцию которой входят вопросы декларирования, проверки реального имущественного положения чиновников,  а также оценки потенциально дискредитирующих власть действий (поступков), ставших известными общественности.

Эксперты Совета Европы, представляющие Ирландию, Германию и Чехию, подробно остановились на вопросах, касающихся защиты осведомителей о коррупции. Ими приведены примеры закрепления в европейском законодательстве механизмов, стимулирующих граждан сообщать об известных им фактах коррупционных проявлений, а также не позволяющих в дальнейшем применять к ним ответные «карательные» меры.

Рабочими языками семинара были определены русский и

English languages. The efficient work of simultaneous interpreters, as well as the audio and video equipment of the DanubiusHotelHELIA conference hall provided to the seminar participants, allowed for free communication despite language barriers, understanding and being understood online.

Beautiful Budapest, divided by the mighty Danube from north to south into two parts: the mountainous majestic Buda and the flat ancient Pest, left no one indifferent.

The unique architecture of the monumental Parliament, Buda Castle, Vajdahunyad Castle, bridges, boulevards and squares of the Hungarian capital will be forever remembered by the seminar participants, and the knowledge gained during communication with colleagues will help in further work for the benefit of the Belarusian people.

Department for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime of the Regional Prosecutor's Office.