Officials in Kazakhstan now permitted to engage in business

Tengrinews.kz - The Mazhilis has approved a new bill allowing officials, equivalent to civil servants, to engage in business activities.
During a recent plenary session, deputies approved amendments to the bill titled "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan Regarding Compliance with Constitutional Norms."
According to the first deputy chairman of the Agency for Combating Corruption, Ulan Sarkulov, the changes declare Article 13 of the "Law on Combating Corruption" unconstitutional concerning restrictions on entrepreneurial activity for individuals equated to those authorized to perform state functions. This means that officials, similar to civil servants, are now allowed to conduct business.
The bill defines these individuals as those holding managerial positions in state enterprises, municipal enterprises, and public institutions, including schools and hospitals. This includes heads of organizations, their deputies, heads of procurement departments, and branch managers.
However, Sarkulov noted that the ban on business activities will remain in place for specific groups, including:

Members of territorial election commissions serving on a permanent basis;
Employees of the National Bank, the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, and the authorized organization in civil aviation (AO "Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan");
Managers in national holdings and companies (executive body leaders, their deputies, and heads of divisions in charge of procurement and project selection funded by the budget).

Earlier, Kazakhstan has introduced a new law aimed at curbing gambling addiction among its citizens. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the legislation that expands restrictions on who cannot participate in gambling.