UNODC Facilitates Exchange of Experiences between Kyrgyzstan and Georgia on anti-corruption

On the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) Kyrgyzstan occupies the 144th place among 188 countries. This is an indication that corruption remains one of the most pressing problems impacting the prospects for sustainable development in the country.

 

To learn best practices, UNODC recently organized a four-day study visit to Georgia. During the visit, from 17 until 21 January 2022, a delegation composed of staff from Kyrgyzstan’s General Prosecutor’s Office met with representatives of the Government Administration of Georgia, the Civil Service Bureau, Anticorruption agency of State Security Service of Georgia. the State Procurement Agency, the Prosecution Service, the Ministry of Justice, the State Security Service, the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance, the High Council of Justice, the Public Service Delivery Hub of Georgia, the Young Lawyers Association, and Transparency International Georgia.

 

The delegation learned from the experience of Georgia in terms of developing the legal and institutional framework for anti-corruption. Discussions concerned the mandate of law enforcement bodies and other anti-corruption institutions, including their investigative functions. The delegation specifically looked at asset declaration, related digital information systems, and other preventive measures in the public sector.

 

The delegation discussed the possibility to consult with Georgian counterparts in relation to the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), which Kyrgyzstan is interested to join. Further cooperation on specific issues, such as financial investigations, asset disclosure and whistleblowing policies was also agreed.

 

About the UN Convention against Corruption

The UN Convention against Corruption is the sole global, legally binding instrument against this crime. It came into force in December 2005 and is near-universal with 189 Parties. Under the Convention, States are legally obliged to prevent and criminalize corruption; to promote international cooperation; to recover and return stolen assets; and to improve technical assistance and information exchange in both the private and public sectors.

The Convention is reinforced by the Implementation Review Mechanism, which started in 2010, covering the chapters of the Convention on criminalization and law enforcement, and on international cooperation. The second cycle of reviews started in 2015 and covers the chapters on preventive measures and asset recovery.

UNODC serves as guardian to the Convention and provides anti-corruption assistance to Kyrgyzstan through a new project implemented with support from the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

 

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For all inquiries, please contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist

UNODC Criminal Justice Programme in Central Asia

+996775987817 WhatsApp

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org