New penalties for corruption and protectionism

The Parliament passed amendments to the legislation in first reading establishing new penalties for corruption and protectionism. The Code on Administrative Contraventions was supplemented with an article which says that the persons holding positions of authority that violate the public interests or the rights of individuals and legal entities guaranteed by the law are liable to fines of 50 to 150 conventional units. Also, the functionaries can be deprived of the right to hold certain positions or carry out a certain activity for a period of one to three years. The same penalties apply to persons holding important positions that set up enterprises illegally or administer them indirectly, through other persons. The public authorities that will avoid taking measures for punishing the subordinated functionaries guilty of corruption and protectionism actions will be liable to fines of 50 to 200 conventional units. If the same actions are perpetrated repeatedly during a year, the fine will grow from 200 to 300 conventional units and the persons to blame will be deprived of the right to hold certain posts or carry out a certain activity for a period of one to three years.