Improvement in combating corruption observed among Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan according to anti-corruption watchdog's evaluation.
Corruption persists as a significant issue across Eurasia, yet Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have demonstrably reduced corruption levels over the past decade, according to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International.
The survey also indicates rising corruption in Kyrgyzstan and Russia in recent years. Corruption trends have remained consistent in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
This year's Corruption Perceptions Index highlights that more than two-thirds of the 180 countries assessed scored below 50, portraying a clear absence of corruption as 100. TI expresses concern about the potential for corrupt practices to exert "devastating consequences" on efforts to combat global warming.
"Corruption undermines governance structures, weakens law enforcement, and diverts critical climate finance intended to reduce emissions and build resilience," the report states. "In nations where corruption is rampant, transparency in environmental decision-making is often compromised, leading to unfair outcomes and the depletion of natural resources."
Georgia emerges as the least corrupt state in the region, ranking 53rd out of 180 countries in the CPI table, with a score of 53. A country's score is determined by evaluating data based on 13 different corruption surveys and assessments compiled by various respected institutions, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. Georgia's CPI scores have remained unchanged since the Georgian Dream party came to power in 2012. Last year, Georgian Dream instituted a radical political shift, distancing the nation from the West and adopting authoritarian-style policies.
While Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan maintained steady CPI scores in 2024 compared to the previous year, each has made substantial progress in combating corruption over the past decade. Armenia's CPI score, for instance, has increased from 35 in 2015 to 47 this year, making it the second-cleanest state in the region.
Uzbekistan, once one of the most corrupt nations in the index, scored 32 points this year, up from 19 in 2015. Kazakhstan has seen improvement in curbing corruption under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's leadership, recording a score of 40 in 2024, a 12-point increase over the past decade.
Russia's and Kyrgyzstan's scores have witnessed a significant decline. The Kremlin's war of aggression in Ukraine has intensified corrupt practices in already corrupt Russia. The country's score has plummeted from 28 in 2022, when Russian forces attacked Ukraine, to 22 last year. Kyrgyzstan has experienced a similar downward trend since President Sadyr Japarov came to power in 2020, the year Kyrgyzstan achieved its best CPI score of 31.
Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan have not witnessed significant changes, consistently ranking among the most corrupt states in the region. Turkmenistan holds the distinction as the most corrupt nation in Eurasia, often being listed alongside the likes of Haiti, Myanmar, North Korea, and Nicaragua in the CPI rankings.
The United States has experienced an increase in corruption in recent years, with its CPI score dropping to 65 in 2024 from 76 a decade ago. The US's score experienced a dramatic eight-point decline from 2017-2020, a period coinciding with Donald Trump's first term in the White House.
- The report released by Transparency International indicates that while corruption has decreased in Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan over the past decade, it has unfortunately risen in Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
- The Corruption Perceptions Index highlights a concerning trend, where news about corruption can have devastating consequences on efforts for a cleaner environment, as in nations where corruption is rampant, transparency in environmental decision-making is often compromised.
