Tuesday, January 31 2023 11:16

ArmInfo. The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released today by Transparency International reveals that corruption remains rampant in Eastern Europe and Central  Asia as many countries reach historic lows.

The average score for Eastern Europe and Central Asia is 35 - well  below the global average of 43. While improvements in a handful of  countries offer hope, the region has a long way to go to turn the  tide against long-standing corruption.

Across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 2022 has underlined how  high-level corruption is closely linked to political instability,  weakened institutions and - in the most extreme cases - violent  conflict. Across the region, governments undermine democratic  processes, crack down on civic space and restrict media freedoms in a  vicious cycle of corruption and authoritarianism, leaving Eastern  Europe and Central Asia the second lowest performing region on the  2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

Armenia's 2022 score has significantly decreased compared to the  previous year and is equal to 46. It is 3 points less than the score  of the previous two years (49 points) on a scale from 0 (absolutely  corrupt) to 100 (absolutely clean). The standard error of measurement  of Armenia's 2022 CPI is equal to 2.47 (in 2021 it was equal to  3.76). As it is mentioned in the Transparency International's 2022  Eastern Europe and Central Asia regional analysis: "After years of  improvement, this CPI brings worrying signs as Armenia drops three  points. While not yet statistically significant, this downturn  reflects the breakdown in maintaining checks and balances, ensuring  integrity in law enforcement, securing judicial independence and  protecting civic space."

Top scorers in the region are Georgia (CPI score: 56), Armenia (46)  and Montenegro (45). Tajikistan (24), Azerbaijan (23) and  Turkmenistan (19) are the worst performers.

Russia's (28) brutal invasion of Ukraine (33) shook the world and  made obvious how entrenched corruption threatens regional security  and stability. President Vladimir Putin has tightened his grip  through the power of the purse, including by granting lucrative  business deals to his close associates - and persecuting those who  deny him. Now, he can exert influence over other nations and pursue  his geopolitical ambitions without internal opposition. The  consequence for the rest of the world is immense: the attack on  Ukraine has caused enormous new political, economic and security  challenges across Eastern Europe, and threatens progress to protect  the rule of law, fight against corruption and support the healthy  functioning of democratic institutions.

Although it still scores low, war-torn Ukraine is one of few  significant improvers on the CPI, having gained eight points since  2013. The country has long struggled with systemic abuse of power,  but has taken important steps to improve oversight and  accountability.

Russia's war of aggression has disrupted some of the reform processes  and exacerbated corruption risks.  Reconstruction and recovery  efforts can be drastically undermined by wrongdoers pocketing funds,  both during the war and after. Such a case was discovered in  mid-January when investigations exposed war profiteering by the  defence and the communities and territories development ministries.  The scandal clearly underscores the need for reforms to prevent such  violations in the future, from both domestic and global actors. As  foreign aid will play a vital role in rebuilding Ukraine, the  international community must support the Ukrainian government in  strengthening its national anti-corruption agencies and civil  society. Only independent oversight can ensure the effective and  accountable distribution of the development and reconstruction aid  the country so desperately needs.

After years of improvement, this CPI brings worrying signs as Armenia  drops three points. While not yet statistically significant, this  downturn reflects the breakdown in maintaining checks and balances,  ensuring integrity in law enforcement, securing judicial independence  and protecting civic space.

Kazakhstan (36) was rocked by massive civil unrest in January 2022.  Triggered by a spike in fuel prices, the demonstrations were fed by  public outrage over inequality and corruption, resulting in more than  200 deaths, many of which have not been properly and transparently  investigated. Protestors highlighted the former Kazakh ruling  family's allegedly ill-gotten wealth, causing current President  Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to prioritise recovering stolen assets. To move  forward from this turmoil, the country must empower anti-corruption  agencies and ensure transparency in the asset recovery process.

Meanwhile, power in Azerbaijan is largely held by the president - who  has been in this role since 2003 - and his family. Corruption in the  country is widespread, and effective opposition to the government has  been weakened by years of crackdowns on rival politicians and civil  society.

Kyrgyzstan (27) is among the weakest performers in the region. While  it used to be a democratic outlier among its neighbours, the country  has slid towards autocracy. The resulting weakening of checks and  balances is making it increasingly easy for those with power to abuse  it without accountability. To make matters worse, the government  cracked down hard on freedoms of expression and civil society last  year, arresting protesters and partially shutting down the internet  after demonstrations against the government's secretive border  demarcation deal with neighbouring Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan (31), on the other hand, has been a steady improver on the  CPI, gaining 14 points since 2013. In recent years, the country has  prioritised preventing corruption, establishing an anti-corruption  agency as well as a mandatory online public procurement platform to  enhance transparency. Despite these important measures, Uzbekistan  remains an authoritarian state where activists and civil society face  persecution, interrogation and dismissals. Until the country opens up  civic space, it cannot fully address its issues with corruption.

Fore more information visit:  https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2022-eastern-europe-central-asia- growing-security-risks-authoritarianism-threaten-progress-corruption