Independence is one of the fundamental principles of the supreme audit institutions’ activities, and its effective implementation is a prerequisite for improved quality of public administration and living standards.

Galina Izotova, Acting Chair of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, mentioned at the XX session of the Council of Heads of SAIs of the CIS Member States.

Heads of SAIs Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Members of SAI Kazakhstan also attended the Council meeting. The key topic of the anniversary session was ensuring public audit independence.

Addressing the meeting participants, Galina Izotova highlighted the independence of public audit institutions as the primary condition for the comprehensive implementation of the SAIs’ mission:

Independence allows us to conduct audits of the most critical and problematic areas of public administration, put forward balanced, substantiated, and unbiased recommendations. The improved welfare in our countries to a large extent depends on SAIs addressing these tasks effectively. SAI reports provide an objective, evidence-based assessment of the budget processes implementation, guarantee that the state is accountable to its citizens thereby contributing to improving the efficiency of public administration and living standards.

According to Galina Izotova, the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation places great emphasis on the evidence-based approach in auditing. An important aspect of independence is the provision of audit-based recommendations on key matters of public administration.

Also, the Accounts Chamber is engaged in active work aimed at building interaction with the Parliament, the population, civil society institutions, and with the audited entities.

The Supreme Audit Institutions operate within a complex system of relationships that involves auditees, legislative and executive authorities, non-governmental organizations, mass media, businesses, citizens, and the international community. Therefore, it is crucial to build effective interaction with all stakeholders as well as act not only as an external controller but also as a partner of audited entities and duly consider their needs, while maintaining independence,

Galina Izotova concluded.

The Terminology of the Risk-Based Approach of the Supreme Public Audit (Financial Control) Institutions of the CIS Member States, developed at the initiative of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, was approved at the event.

As a result of the meeting, it was decided to hold the XXI session of the Council of Heads of SAIs of the CIS Member States in 2025 in the Republic of Uzbekistan.