Transparency International published a rating of the level of corruption in countries

Baku/02.22.18/Turan: The International Human Rights Organization for Combating Corruption Transparency International announced the annual transparency rating of the countries. In a report presented on February 21 in Berlin, the states are ranked according to the corruption perception index. Azerbaijan ranked 122nd in the list by the end of 2017.

According to the methodology of Transparency International, countries and territories are assessed

on a scale from 0 (the highest level of corruption) to 100 (the lowest level of corruption) on the basis of perception of the level of corruption in the public sector. The study was conducted in 180 countries.

Last year, the leaders of the rating were New Zealand and Denmark, gaining 89 and 88 points respectively. In the first positions, the countries of Western Europe with an average score of 66 points prevail. The US is ranked 16th with an index of 75. Among the Latin American countries, according to the organization, in 2017, Uruguay (70 points) and Chile (69) became the most favorable countries.

Azerbaijan, ranked 122nd in the world rating, received 31 points out of 100 possible and rose one position higher compared to 2016. The results of other neighboring countries are higher: Armenia was on the 107th place, Turkey - 81st, Georgia - 46th, Hungary - 66th, Belarus - 68th.

Outsiders ranking the researchers counted Afghanistan (15 points), Syria (14), South Sudan (12) and Somalia (9).

Director of the organization Delia Ferreira stated that in "the most corrupt states, the space for the press and freedom of expression is absolutely compressed, as is the space for access to information."

As independent economist Natig Jafarli notes, certain shifts

in the fight against corruption in the country are observed. This mainly applies to the lower levels of state structures - obtaining documents from the Housing and Utilities Service, the OVIR and the registration departments of the regional police departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, migration and taxation services. An electronic system for assigning targeted social assistance to low-income citizens has been introduced. There is an ASAN service, which became an intermediary between the state and citizens. It helps to minimize bureaucratic procedures. In this regard, opportunities for bribes are reduced.

However, in other spheres of state activity and business, corruption schemes are still in effect. The scale of corruption at the level of the leading staff of ministries, state companies, banks of the country is amazing. Last year, the apotheosis of corruption was the Azerbaijani Laundromat, which revealed the laundering of 2.9 billion USD. dollars.

According to lawyer Akram Hasanov, it is difficult to notice a serious fight against corruption at the state level. This kind of crime reigns in almost all state spheres. Of course, law enforcement agencies prosecute those involved in bribes, but, as a rule, these are petty officials who do not play a significant role in the overall situation.

"A significant share of corruption in the banking and construction business, which is the main source of income for the oligarchs. They are engaged in spending budget funds, priority development programs, and in this sphere commit abuses using illegal schemes for export of capital," Hasanov emphasized.--0--