Azerbaijan improves in corruption list
The level of corruption in Azerbaijan has decreased
this year, Transparency International reported, rating the country
143rd among 180 countries.
The South Caucasus republic’s ranking has improved from 1.9 to 2.3 points in comparison with 2008, according to the TI website.
The upgrading resulted from the Azerbaijani government’s efforts aiming to better the business climate and anti-corruption measures, the watchdog said in a report released on Tuesday.
TI welcomed what it described as the authorities’ willingness to discuss the corruption issue with public organizations though corrupt practices have spread to all areas of society. However, the government should improve the enforcement of anti-corruption legislation.
The 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks states on perceptions of levels of public sector corruption, scores countries on a scale of zero to 10, with zero indicating high levels of corruption and 10 very low.
Overall, the situation in the former Soviet republics has improved this year. Georgia was rated the highest among them, excluding the Baltic states, ranking 4.1 versus 3.9 in 2008. War with Russia and ongoing political turmoil have not been enough to stop Georgia making progress on corruption, with a general consensus that petty corruption in particular has diminished. Transparency raises concerns over ongoing high-level corruption and corrupt practices in the judiciary.
In Kazakhstan (2.7 versus 2.2 in 2008), the highest improvements were reported. TI said corruption there remains systematic but recent government anti-corruption efforts aimed at improving conditions for foreign investors are praised. In 2010, it will become the first former Soviet bloc country to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Serious problems remain affecting judiciary, police, customs, property rights, land registration and construction sector.
Russia ranked 2.2 versus 2.1 in 2008. A slim increase is seen as a response to a December 2008 package of anti-corruption legislation initiated and promoted by President Dmitry Medvedev, who also recently admitted corruption was endemic. The report criticizes excessive role of government in economy and business sector.
The situation in Armenia somewhat declined – 120-125th, compared to 109-114th ranking reported last year, but the country still surpasses Azerbaijan. TI explained the trend with oligarchs monopolizing the economy, conflict of interests and political interference with business.
Political turmoil in Ukraine (2.2 versus 2.5 in 2008) contributes to the fall, with higher levels of both public and private sector corruption. TI warns of a "bleak outlook".
The TI found war-torn nations were the most corrupt in the world. Afghanistan, Iraq, Burma were among the lowest-ranked, with conflict-ridden Somalia at the bottom for the second year running.
New Zealand was the least corrupt, followed by Denmark and Singapore.*
The South Caucasus republic’s ranking has improved from 1.9 to 2.3 points in comparison with 2008, according to the TI website.
The upgrading resulted from the Azerbaijani government’s efforts aiming to better the business climate and anti-corruption measures, the watchdog said in a report released on Tuesday.
TI welcomed what it described as the authorities’ willingness to discuss the corruption issue with public organizations though corrupt practices have spread to all areas of society. However, the government should improve the enforcement of anti-corruption legislation.
The 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks states on perceptions of levels of public sector corruption, scores countries on a scale of zero to 10, with zero indicating high levels of corruption and 10 very low.
Overall, the situation in the former Soviet republics has improved this year. Georgia was rated the highest among them, excluding the Baltic states, ranking 4.1 versus 3.9 in 2008. War with Russia and ongoing political turmoil have not been enough to stop Georgia making progress on corruption, with a general consensus that petty corruption in particular has diminished. Transparency raises concerns over ongoing high-level corruption and corrupt practices in the judiciary.
In Kazakhstan (2.7 versus 2.2 in 2008), the highest improvements were reported. TI said corruption there remains systematic but recent government anti-corruption efforts aimed at improving conditions for foreign investors are praised. In 2010, it will become the first former Soviet bloc country to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Serious problems remain affecting judiciary, police, customs, property rights, land registration and construction sector.
Russia ranked 2.2 versus 2.1 in 2008. A slim increase is seen as a response to a December 2008 package of anti-corruption legislation initiated and promoted by President Dmitry Medvedev, who also recently admitted corruption was endemic. The report criticizes excessive role of government in economy and business sector.
The situation in Armenia somewhat declined – 120-125th, compared to 109-114th ranking reported last year, but the country still surpasses Azerbaijan. TI explained the trend with oligarchs monopolizing the economy, conflict of interests and political interference with business.
Political turmoil in Ukraine (2.2 versus 2.5 in 2008) contributes to the fall, with higher levels of both public and private sector corruption. TI warns of a "bleak outlook".
The TI found war-torn nations were the most corrupt in the world. Afghanistan, Iraq, Burma were among the lowest-ranked, with conflict-ridden Somalia at the bottom for the second year running.
New Zealand was the least corrupt, followed by Denmark and Singapore.*
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