The Tax Committee under the Government of Tajikistan has simplified the procedure of filing asset declarations for public officials. They now can file their asset declaration through Internet.
“It is a question of innovative mechanisms, which are used in the modern tax administration system, one of links in a common chain of measures on automatizing the process of record-keeping and registration,” says the Tax Committee’s website.
This ‘link’ is designated as the “Taxpayer’s Personal Area”, which is reportedly fully protected and other visitors will not be able to use the public officials’ asset declarations.
Tax authorities say these measures have been taken following president’s statement about threat and fatal consequences of corruption, first of all in the public management system.
In his address to both chambers of parliament, President Emomali Rahmon noted on December 26 that “corruption is one of serious obstacles in the way of sustainable development of the country and cam undermine the country’s authority in international arena, cause dissatisfaction of citizens with activities of the government bodies.”
The government has established the necessary legal anti-corruption framework to curb corruption, criminalizing passive and active bribery, extortion, money laundering and other offenses. Nonetheless, enforcement of the law is poor.
Corruption is a key threat to good governance, democratic processes and fair business competition and asset declarations for public officials are a tool to prevent corruption.
