Tokayev signs law criminalizing bribe offers in Kazakhstan
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President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law amending anti-corruption legislation, introducing criminal liability for offering or promising a bribe, including via social media. The law also mandates disclosure of close relatives when hiring civil servants and strengthens conflict-of-interest rules.
Criminalization of Bribe Offers
The new law, signed by President Tokayev on June 12, 2026, makes the mere offer or promise of a bribe a criminal offense, according to Tengrinews. Proof can be established through oral or written statements, including social media messages. Senator Andrei Lukin explained on May 28 that the amendments also cover demanding a bribe and provocation of illegal remuneration.
Disclosure of Relatives
Civil servants will now be required to disclose information about close relatives upon hiring, as reported by Tengrinews. The law expands the list of persons equated to those authorized to perform state functions and tightens restrictions on joint service of close relatives. Internal anti-corruption controls in state bodies and quasi-public sector entities are also modernized.
Administrative Penalties
Administrative liability is strengthened for certain corruption offenses, including failure to resolve conflicts of interest, failure to report corruption crimes, and providing illegal material rewards, according to Zakon.kz. The law also introduces responsibility for not taking measures to prevent and resolve conflicts of interest.
What's Next
The full text of the law is to be published in print. It remains unclear how enforcement will be implemented and whether the new provisions will significantly reduce corruption in Kazakhstan.
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Tokayev signs law criminalizing bribe offers in Kazakhstan
