Anti-corruption
Corruption is considered a significant socio-political problem that hampers economic growth. Crimes committed by officials, especially those with a corrupt nature, cause substantial harm to the authority of the state, hinder the normal functioning of governmental and management bodies, as well as the apparatus of control in various organizations regardless of ownership forms. They erode citizens’ trust in the governing structures
In the Republic of Belarus, an uncompromising stance against corruption and its criminal manifestations has been established by the state. In recent years, active measures have been taken at the governmental level to combat this negative phenomenon. Primarily, this includes the Law of the Republic of Belarus «On Countering Corruption», which came into effect in January 2016
The list of corrupt offenses is established by a joint resolution of the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Anticorruption and Economic Crimes Department, the Operational and Analytical Center, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Security Committee, and the Investigative Committee dated December 27, 2013, No. 43/9/95/571/57/274. Currently, it includes 10 types of offenses. Among the corrupt offenses that result in criminal liability are:
Embezzlement through abuse of official powers (Article 210 of the Criminal Code)
Legalization («money laundering») of material assets acquired by criminal means, committed by an official using their official powers (parts 2 and 3 of Article 235 of the Criminal Code)
Abuse of power or official authority for selfish or other personal interests (parts 2 and 3 of Article 424 of the Criminal Code)
Inaction of an official due to selfish or other personal interests (parts 2 and 3 of Article 425 of the Criminal Code)
Abuse of power or official authority due to selfish or other personal interests (parts 2 and 3 of Article 426 of the Criminal Code)
Illegal involvement in entrepreneurial activity (Article 429 of the Criminal Code)
Bribery (Article 430 of the Criminal Code)
Offering a Bribe (Article 431 of the Criminal Code)
Mediation in Bribery (Article 432 of the Criminal Code)
Abuse of Authority, Exceeding Authority or Official Negligence Committed out of Self-Interest or Other Personal Interests (Article 455 of the Criminal Code)
Administrative liability may arise for committing corrupt acts according to the norms of the Administrative Offenses Code, for example, under Article 12.8 (violation of the procedure for using budget funds, state off-budget funds), Article 12.9 (Violation of the procedure for conducting state purchases of goods (works, services)), Article 12.27 (violation of requirements for the procedure for purchasing goods (works, services) at the expense of own funds), Article 12.10 (violation of the procedure for conducting procurement procedures in construction), Article 24.53 (violation of the procedure for providing and using gratuitous (sponsor) assistance), Article 11.1 (minor embezzlement of property through abuse of official powers, as well as an attempt to commit such embezzlement), and others