On the eve of International Anti-Corruption Day (December 9), District Prosecutor Andrey Starchenko gave an interview to a correspondent of the district newspaper "Zarya"
International Anti-Corruption Day was proclaimed by UN General Assembly Resolution of November 21, 2003. It was first observed in 2004.
Concerned about the problems caused by "bribery", the UN General Assembly developed and opened for signature the Convention against Corruption. It became an important instrument of international law, the result of the global community's deep awareness of the serious danger that this evil poses. The document provides for measures to prevent corruption, punish offenders, and mechanisms for international cooperation in combating it, obliging states to pursue anti-corruption policies, approve relevant laws, and establish special bodies to combat this negative phenomenon.
Our country has also supported and developed anti-corruption initiatives at national, regional, and international levels, signed the Convention against Corruption on April 28, 2004, and ratified the document on November 25, 2004, with the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Ratification of the UN Convention against Corruption". The General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Belarus has been designated as the body coordinating its implementation.
"Today," says Andrey Arkadyevich Starchenko, Prosecutor of Beshenkovichi District, "a solid legislative framework has been created in Belarus, which defines the system of measures and principles for combating corruption, specific preventive, organizational measures, mechanisms for combating it, eliminating the consequences of corruption offenses, and also provides for the strictest criminal liability for such crimes."
The legal foundations of anti-corruption activities are contained in the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, which regulates the most important public relations. In addition, our country is an active participant in a number of UN and Council of Europe conventions in the field of combating corruption and organized crime. Fulfilling relevant international obligations, the Republic of Belarus, within its legal system, consistently takes legislative, administrative, and other anti-corruption measures. The Law on Combating Corruption and other regulatory legal acts are aimed at implementing the norms of the Constitution and international legal acts, suppressing, preventing, and combating corruption.
"The fight against corruption is not a short-term campaign, but a crucial state task in strengthening the independence and sovereignty of our state, ensuring public safety..."
"Absolutely right, Belarus implemented a program to combat crime and corruption for 2017-2019. By the decision of the Republican Coordination Meeting on Combating Crime and Corruption of December 18, 2020, a similar program for 2020-2022 was approved. Based on the analysis of corruption crime, its structure and dynamics, as well as proposals submitted by state bodies, a separate section entitled "Complex of measures to combat corruption, eliminate its causes and conditions" was included in it, which contains organizational-legal, organizational-practical, preventive, and international-legal measures.
In republican bodies of state administration and other state organizations subordinate to the Government of the Republic of Belarus, regional, city, district executive committees, local
Concerned about the problems caused by "bribery", the UN General Assembly developed and opened for signature the Convention against Corruption. It became an important instrument of international law, the result of the global community's deep awareness of the serious danger that this evil poses. The document provides for measures to prevent corruption, punish offenders, and mechanisms for international cooperation in combating it, obliging states to pursue anti-corruption policies, approve relevant laws, and establish special bodies to combat this negative phenomenon.
Our country has also supported and developed anti-corruption initiatives at national, regional, and international levels, signed the Convention against Corruption on April 28, 2004, and ratified the document on November 25, 2004, with the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Ratification of the UN Convention against Corruption". The General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Belarus has been designated as the body coordinating its implementation.
"Today," says Andrey Arkadyevich Starchenko, Prosecutor of Beshenkovichi District, "a solid legislative framework has been created in Belarus, which defines the system of measures and principles for combating corruption, specific preventive, organizational measures, mechanisms for combating it, eliminating the consequences of corruption offenses, and also provides for the strictest criminal liability for such crimes."
The legal foundations of anti-corruption activities are contained in the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, which regulates the most important public relations. In addition, our country is an active participant in a number of UN and Council of Europe conventions in the field of combating corruption and organized crime. Fulfilling relevant international obligations, the Republic of Belarus, within its legal system, consistently takes legislative, administrative, and other anti-corruption measures. The Law on Combating Corruption and other regulatory legal acts are aimed at implementing the norms of the Constitution and international legal acts, suppressing, preventing, and combating corruption.
"The fight against corruption is not a short-term campaign, but a crucial state task in strengthening the independence and sovereignty of our state, ensuring public safety..."
"Absolutely right, Belarus implemented a program to combat crime and corruption for 2017-2019. By the decision of the Republican Coordination Meeting on Combating Crime and Corruption of December 18, 2020, a similar program for 2020-2022 was approved. Based on the analysis of corruption crime, its structure and dynamics, as well as proposals submitted by state bodies, a separate section entitled "Complex of measures to combat corruption, eliminate its causes and conditions" was included in it, which contains organizational-legal, organizational-practical, preventive, and international-legal measures.
In republican bodies of state administration and other state organizations subordinate to the Government of the Republic of Belarus, regional, city, district executive committees, local
district administrations in cities, and holding management companies have established anti-corruption commissions. Representatives of the prosecutor's office, internal affairs bodies, and mass media usually participate in their meetings.
-- Andrey Arkadyevich, does the district prosecutor's office also monitor compliance with anti-corruption legislation?
-- Supervisory measures are carried out on an ongoing basis. During these measures, corruption-related crimes and offenses that create prerequisites for corruption crimes are identified. This year, for example, we conducted three such inspections. For systematic violations of anti-corruption legislation, with the aim of eliminating the committed violations, 2 submissions were made, 7 orders were issued, 7 officials were brought to administrative responsibility, all of them were warned about the inadmissibility of committing repeated violations of the law. 13 officials faced disciplinary responsibility. 1 protest was filed against a decision contradicting anti-corruption legislation.
-- What are the main reasons for committing corruption crimes?
-- Inaction of controlling structures, an atmosphere of connivance, unscrupulousness of leaders, as well as the absence of a mechanism for controlling the implementation of adopted decisions can provoke corrupt actions. Recently, violations are often detected during public procurement (works, services). It would seem that a law has been adopted, general requirements for the procurement procedure, the work of commissions have been established, and an algorithm of actions has been described, but in practice, the legislation is not always strictly followed. By the way, there are also enough violations when institutions, organizations, and enterprises carry out procurements at their own expense. Each of them can create prerequisites for corruption crimes.
-- With regard to the norms of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, what corruption-related crimes are most common?
-- Embezzlement through abuse of official power, abuse of power or official authority, receiving a bribe, giving a bribe. By the way, this year in our district, one official was brought to criminal responsibility for receiving a bribe. The fact of embezzlement through abuse of official power is being investigated.
-- Corruption crimes are characterized by high secrecy, since not only the corrupt official, but also the person in whose interests he acts using his official position, are not interested in revealing their criminal relationships?
-- Therefore, an effective fight against corruption is possible when the work of law enforcement agencies is combined with the active civic position of everyone in rejecting any manifestations of corruption. The power of the public (citizens and public associations) lies in drawing attention to certain problems, which are then solved by law enforcement agencies. Through a special form provided on the websites of state bodies involved in combating corruption, everyone can report known facts of corruption (including anonymously), as well as request clarification on a matter of interest, submit an application, proposal, or complaint.
The main source of success in solving the main task is strong state power, strong social policy, reliance on the people, and transparency. The fight against corruption should be purposeful, comprehensive, and continuous. At the same time, efforts should be aimed not only at detecting and suppressing facts of corruption but also at establishing and eliminating the causes that give rise to it.
Larisa PAVLOVSKAYA.
-- Andrey Arkadyevich, does the district prosecutor's office also monitor compliance with anti-corruption legislation?
-- Supervisory measures are carried out on an ongoing basis. During these measures, corruption-related crimes and offenses that create prerequisites for corruption crimes are identified. This year, for example, we conducted three such inspections. For systematic violations of anti-corruption legislation, with the aim of eliminating the committed violations, 2 submissions were made, 7 orders were issued, 7 officials were brought to administrative responsibility, all of them were warned about the inadmissibility of committing repeated violations of the law. 13 officials faced disciplinary responsibility. 1 protest was filed against a decision contradicting anti-corruption legislation.
-- What are the main reasons for committing corruption crimes?
-- Inaction of controlling structures, an atmosphere of connivance, unscrupulousness of leaders, as well as the absence of a mechanism for controlling the implementation of adopted decisions can provoke corrupt actions. Recently, violations are often detected during public procurement (works, services). It would seem that a law has been adopted, general requirements for the procurement procedure, the work of commissions have been established, and an algorithm of actions has been described, but in practice, the legislation is not always strictly followed. By the way, there are also enough violations when institutions, organizations, and enterprises carry out procurements at their own expense. Each of them can create prerequisites for corruption crimes.
-- With regard to the norms of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, what corruption-related crimes are most common?
-- Embezzlement through abuse of official power, abuse of power or official authority, receiving a bribe, giving a bribe. By the way, this year in our district, one official was brought to criminal responsibility for receiving a bribe. The fact of embezzlement through abuse of official power is being investigated.
-- Corruption crimes are characterized by high secrecy, since not only the corrupt official, but also the person in whose interests he acts using his official position, are not interested in revealing their criminal relationships?
-- Therefore, an effective fight against corruption is possible when the work of law enforcement agencies is combined with the active civic position of everyone in rejecting any manifestations of corruption. The power of the public (citizens and public associations) lies in drawing attention to certain problems, which are then solved by law enforcement agencies. Through a special form provided on the websites of state bodies involved in combating corruption, everyone can report known facts of corruption (including anonymously), as well as request clarification on a matter of interest, submit an application, proposal, or complaint.
The main source of success in solving the main task is strong state power, strong social policy, reliance on the people, and transparency. The fight against corruption should be purposeful, comprehensive, and continuous. At the same time, efforts should be aimed not only at detecting and suppressing facts of corruption but also at establishing and eliminating the causes that give rise to it.
Larisa PAVLOVSKAYA.