Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 20 July (BelTA) – The international experience of fighting economic crimes is in demand in Belarus, BelTA learned from Vyacheslav Andrukhov, Head of the First Office of the Financial Investigations Department of the State Control Committee of Belarus, before the international TAIEX seminar organized by the department in association with the European Commission on 20 July.

According to Vyacheslav Andrukhov, cooperation allows working out measures to step up efforts in this field. Apart from that, similar events help establish direct contacts between government agencies, allowing responding in a timely manner to the detection of transnational crime groups.

“Some countries have massive experience of counteracting corruption. We draw on this experience in our daily work,” noted the State Control Committee representative.

Director of the Central Office for Seizure and Confiscation of Belgium Jean-Michel Verelst believes it is important to share knowledge and methods because suppressing corruption crimes is a topical task for the European region. “It is necessary to work together to fight these phenomena, which considerably damage national economies. It is a common challenge, a common problem,” said the expert.

Organized by the Financial Investigations Department in association with the European Commission, the international TAIEX seminars have been arranged in Minsk for three years now to address various topics. This year corruption crimes are in focus. During the meeting the European Union is represented by specialists from Lithuania, Poland, Finland, and Belgium. They are expected to present information about methods of fighting economic crimes and counteracting corruption manifestations in the European Union. Belarus is represented by top officials of financial investigation agencies, representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Investigative Committee, and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus.

Belarus’ experience of implementing the government policy in counteracting corruption, in pre-trial investigation of criminal cases involving corruption in the sphere of economy is presented during the seminar. Minimizing corruption risks in the course of government purchases is in the center of attention because financial investigation agencies believe this area is most susceptible to corruption.