Civil Society’s Role in Fighting Corruption in Kazakhstan

Anti-Corruption Conference in Astana
Anti-Corruption Conference in Astana
Two weeks ago I attended an international conference on fighting corruption and promoting good governance in Eastern Europe and Central Asia that took place in Astana, Kazakhstan and was co-organized by the OECD and the Financial Police of Kazakhstan. This was a particularly significant event because it was the first conference of this kind in the post-Soviet space since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Over 150 delegates from over 40 countries from as far away as Latin America to as nearby as Kyrgyzstan included high-level dignitaries and anti-corruption specialists who descended onto a seemingly empty, but posh capital city of Astana for several days. It is difficult not to think of fighting corruption and improving good governance as two of the most fundamentally critical pillars for increasing widereaching national economic prosperity and developing sound, transparent and accountable democratic institutions. Disappointingly, however, civil society was notably absent from this event.

This was particularly odd, as the anti-corruption officials at the conference continuously emphasized in their presentations the active role of civil society in developing and implementing the national anti-corruption strategy. Yet, only two Central Asian civil society organizations were present at this conference – Transparency Kazakhstan, which had a speaking role alongside the Kazakhstan government officials, and one representative from the Independent Association of Entrepreneurs.

On the day the OECD delegates arrived in Astana from around the world, leaders of the President’s political party Nur Otan, which in 2007 secured its place as the only political party in Kazakhstan’s Parliament, called for constitutional changes paving the way for Nazarbaev to be president for life through a new law called “About the Leader of the Nation.” If adopted, these changes would eliminate Presidential elections altogether, after presidential term limits were already lifted in 2007. Within this context, international attention to Kazakhstan’s commitment to improving good governance and fighting corruption is of particular importance.

The remarks of all conference speakers are expected to be made available on the OECD website shortly. However, it is worthwhile noting the extensive successes in fighting corruption that were outlined by Kazakhstan’s anti-corruption leadership in their presentations at the conference. One remark that I found especially interesting was the extraordinarily high conviction rate of those charged with corruption with little chance of acquittal for those who have been charged. Here at CIPE, an organization whose mission is to strengthen democracy through private enterprise and market-oriented reform, we are particularly concerned with the commitment to process, which is the basis for good governance and democracy. A system that lacks an independent judiciary, a free, independent and responsible media, and no jury proceedings (except in cases of death penalty trials), is unlikely to carry out credible and fair court decisions, including those cases that involve corruption charges.

Within this context, it is particularly unfortunate that civil society representatives were notably absent from this event. Participation of civil society in checking the government’s power and keeping officials accountable is even more important in developing good governance and fighting corruption in a relatively newly independent country with a weak institutionalized system in place to accomplish this goal. Some civil society activists insist that it was impossible to attend this conference (in Russian), however provide no evidence of this, yet correctly point out that the conference was co-organized with Kazakhstan’s taxpayers’ funds. While in Astana and in Almaty, I asked numerous civil society organizations why they did not attend. None indicated to me that they wanted to attend and were turned away. In fact, some indicated that they were not interested in attending because it was “a government conference” and “others were not invited,” while others said that they were busy with other issues, and some said that they had not heard about it.

If true democracy is to take root in Kazakhstan, civil society organizations must find common ground and unity in purpose to become constructive grassroots advocates for market-based reforms and democratic governance. A viable, dynamic and active civil society, even under the most difficult of circumstances, can help lead their country toward reform. As Kazakhstan ascends to its OSCE Chairmanship in 2010, civil society in Kazakhstan has to make a choice – to continue their infighting and remain on the sidelines, or organize for effective leadership and dialogue on critical reform-oriented issues. 2010 is a unique opportunity for Kazakhstan to demonstrate to the world its commitment to the principles of OSCE and the OECD, whose conference it chaired in September 2009. Civil society in Kazakhstan should not miss this chance.

Published Date: October 05, 2009