Today, June 30, BNTU hosted a dialogue platform for university employees dedicated to combating corruption. Participants included heads and deputy heads of departments who signed pledges regarding anti-corruption restrictions. The speaker was Marina Lebedeva, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor of the Sovietsky District of Minsk.
Before the meeting, Irina Good, Head of the BNTU Center for Ideological Work and Youth Affairs, explained the reason for the dialogue platform:
"Recently, the issue of publishing the second edition of the methodological recommendations on combating corruption, developed by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Belarus, was discussed." Several such dialogue platforms will be held for discussion and a more detailed review of the publication. The participants will include heads and deputy heads of structural divisions—the very individuals who sign the anti-corruption restrictions pledges at BNTU.
Marina Lebedeva noted that the fight against corruption is a priority of state policy and a key area of national security. She recalled that in 2025, the number of registered corruption offenses in the country was 843—significantly fewer than in 2015, when there were approximately 1,600. However, she noted that it is too early to relax: corruption risks remain in agriculture, industry, construction, transportation, healthcare, and education.
During her presentation, the assistant prosecutor cited several real-life examples from the oversight agency's practice.
Marina Lebedeva devoted special attention to violations during public procurement procedures. She noted that the most common errors include incomplete listing of required documents, combining dissimilar goods into a single lot, and conducting a single-source procurement when a competitive procedure is feasible. According to the speaker, even in urgent cases, if a procurement is carried out with violations, it will be canceled and the party involved will be held accountable.
She also noted that there are offenses that create conditions for corruption. These are listed in Article 25 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Combating Corruption." These include interference by officials in the activities of others, favoring certain participants during procurement, abusing official position for personal gain, and many others. Such violations may result in disciplinary or administrative liability, and in some cases, criminal liability.
Marina Lebedeva emphasized that every violation is recorded in databases, and this information is taken into account during subsequent employment with government agencies and organizations. In conclusion, Irina Good recommended that meeting participants carefully study the methodological recommendations of the Prosecutor General's Office, which will soon be distributed to BNTU departments.
BNTU will continue to work to improve legal literacy among employees and foster a zero-tolerance attitude toward corruption in all its forms.
