19 December, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. The main share of corruption-related crimes in the Vitebsk region consists of bribery and embezzlement by officials, reported Vasily Pashkovsky, Head of the Department for Combating Corruption and Organised Crime of the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, to BELTA correspondent. In January-November of the current year, 317 corruption-related crimes were detected in the Vitebsk region, which is 3.6% less compared to the same period last year. Of these, slightly more than 40% (129 crimes) are cases of bribery, and the same number of embezzlement by officials through abuse of official powers. The largest number of corruption-related crimes were registered in such spheres and sectors of activity as industry (56 crimes), construction (35), and agriculture (30). The healthcare and education systems are also on this list. In terms of regions within the oblast for the reporting period, the highest number of corruption-related crimes were detected in Vitebsk (101), Orsha (67), Polotsk (21), and the Orsha and Senno districts (19 each). Citing examples of law enforcement agencies' work in combating corruption, Vasily Pashkovsky noted the established non-isolated cases of crimes committed by officials of road construction organisations, who, abusing their official powers, used forged documents to embezzle bitumen purchased with budget funds. The damage caused by their criminal actions is measured in hundreds of millions of roubles. "It is noteworthy that the majority of embezzlement by officials occurs under conditions of improperly organised economic processes and inadequate accounting of the availability and movement of material assets," emphasised the Head of the Department. Deficiencies in the implementation of financial and economic activities, a low level of labour and performance discipline, and the failure to take necessary measures for the safekeeping of property also contribute significantly to this.