Belarus Losing Reputation as Country with Little Corruption
|
Transparency International published its new report in October to show the spread of corruption in the world. This year Belarus ranks 107th among 159 nations with Corruption Perception Index at 2.6, according to the report of the anti-corruption watchdog. The country fell 33 places within a year. It is equal now with Eritrea, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Nicaragua, Palestine, Ukraine, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ukraine and Kazakhstan are noted as improving their reputation, while Belarus seems to be losing its reputation as a decent, law-abiding and honest country. The 2005 report by Transparency International covers 159 countries. It looks like the more international expert get to know Belarusian bureaucracy and state apparatus the less they have illusions about law and order in Belarus. Belarus now is in a group of countries where government authorities are perceived as strongly corrupted. Some consolation can be only in the fact that the average Corruption Perception Index in the EU is 6.7, against the theoretical article of 10, which would mean no corruption at all. The average indicator for Central and Eastern Europe is 2.7. But Belarus is even lower than that. Since a prevalent attitude to laws in some post-Soviet countries as to recommendations (or instruments of destroying competitors or those thinking differently), the so-called social state in those countries always implies the presence of corruption, cronyism, bribery and neglect of ordinary people. This phenomenon of Belarus' losing rapidly its rather positive image requires special attention. Now it seems almost impossible that just three years ago the country ranked 36th with a good indicator of 4.8 as Corruption Perception Index. But a lot changed since that time. First of all, the Belarusian government's appetite has become much stronger. Confiscation and golden share rule are now widespread notions in the economic language in the country. There have been several instances of nationalizing companies. Even the state media run reports about corruption in banks, medical center, petrochemical enterprises, customs agencies and local authorities. Alyaksandr Lukashenka himself is always speaking about the need for stepping up efforts to fight corruption. However, the temptation to become a fabulously rich person at the expense of public budget is still subordinated to the fear of finding oneself behind bars. While talking to one famous Belarusian businessman, I found confirmation for this argument. "Today I can do whatever I want in the market," he says. "I am not afraid of competition. Very few dare to enter the market today. Yes, I am pressured by state audit agencies. And I have to give bribes. But even if I find myself in prison, I will get out in a couple of year 'clean.' The money that I earned before will still be mine. It will be enough for me and my children." So, prison terms look like costs that many Belarusian corrupted operators simply include in their "business plans." Secondly, international experts doubt that Belarus has an adequate judicial system and system for enforcing contracts. Thirdly, conditions for realizing civil rights and freedoms are rather important for businesses. And these conditions are quite tough in Belarus. Finally, Belarusian experts now cooperate more actively with Transparency International and explain to the organization mechanism of corruption in the country. Measuring corruption in a market economy and in a socialist economy differs. Transparency International has a better understanding of the Belarusian situation today. Thus, judging by the dynamics of Corruption Perception Index for Belarus, the argument that a centralized planned economy has less corruption can be considered refuted. Change of Corruption Perception Index (CPI) over 2002-2005
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
