KAZAKHSTAN Country Profile

Police

Individual Corruption

Citizens often face demands for bribes by Kazakhstan's traffic police.

Business Corruption

Foreign companies have frequently reported harassment by the Financial Police in the form of unannounced inspections and intimidation. It is very difficult to appeal police actions because of the political support they enjoy.

Political Corruption

Law enforcement agencies like the police and the Financial Police are fully accountable to the President and have a reputation of being corrupt. There are many reports indicating the sale of positions in law enforcement.

Law enforcement officers are not immune from criminal proceedings and have been singled-out for corruption and abuses of power. However, while individuals may be targeted, the state protects the overall legitimacy of its agencies.

It is illegal for police officers to belong to a political party; however, there have been several reports of the police acting as a tool of the current government in its efforts to suppress the opposition.

The opposition considers the Financial Police as one of the most corrupted state bodies and considers it to be a tool of the current ruling political group to harass the opposition.

Frequency

EBRD & World Bank: BEEPS Kazakhstan 2005:
- Municipal police inspected the surveyed companies an average of 0.5 times a year, the average duration of these visits being 0.7 hours.

Global Integrity: Kazakhstan Country Report 2007:
- 55% of road police admitted they take part in corruption.