Kazakhstan to implement new civil servant declaration rules from 2027

Kazakhstan is set to introduce a comprehensive new system for civil servants to declare their personal interests, with the regulations taking effect on January 1, 2027. Approved by the government, these rules aim to enhance transparency and prevent conflicts of interest within the public service.

The declaration requirement applies to individuals in senior government positions, civil servants, and officials performing equivalent state duties. They must file within 15 working days of entering civil service or assuming a new role, including promotions or transfers. Late or non-submission will lead to disciplinary measures. However, presidential candidates, members of legislative bodies, and certain local government officials are exempt from this specific requirement.

Key information to be disclosed includes details about close relatives, spouses, and in-laws working within the same or related state bodies. Civil servants must also report any other paid work, such as teaching or research, and their involvement in commercial organizations or individual entrepreneurship, both domestically and abroad. This disclosure extends to activities within the year prior to taking their current position, as well as any property held in trust.

An additional layer of scrutiny applies to those in organizational, executive, or administrative roles. They must report companies owned or managed by their close relatives if those companies engage in civil-law relations with the declarant's organization. The definition of related persons is broad, encompassing not only immediate family but also former spouses, dependents, and individuals sharing a household, extending to companies managed by these relatives.