The leading anti-corruption movement all over the globe Transparency International (TI) has released its Global Corruption Report on 2004, rating Azerbaijan 140th among 146 countries on level of corruption. This index shows that there have been no principal positive changes in field of corruption prevention in Azerbaijan, as it again appeared to be among the most corrupted world countries.The report also says that in some instances the laws passed remain on paper. Although the country has passed laws on unfair competition and anti-monopoly laws, monopolistic practices persist, it said. (18-MAR-2005)

In 2004 Azerbaijani parliament adopted law on corruption prevention, which determines responsibility of state officials for corruption and subjects of corruption. Although the law has been backed by publicity, it does not guarantee that state officials present information about their property and incomes. In the same year, the Commission for the Fight Against Corruption (CFAC) was constituted at the first meeting of the Civil Service Executive Board. À major weakness of the commission is its exclusion of civil society and the media. The commission is made up of a mix of presidential, parliamentary and constitutional court appointees. Both the executive board and the commission are headed by Ramiz Mehdiyev, the head of the presidential administration.
  
Assessment
According to the human rights activists the TI report reflects objectivity and government should take it seriously. “We can not expect anything serious from the Commission for the Fight against Corruption, since it is composed of corrupted government officials. The findings of the TI report are based on exact facts and reality”, says local activist Novella Jafaroglu.

“None of the NGOs are represented in the Commission for the Fight against Corruption. Latest OSCE survey also displayed that the country lurches in corruption. These are very serious indications for the Azeri government. The corruption has hit all the structures. In particular, the medical and educational spheres are the most corrupted spheres”, says another activist Fuad Hasanov.

“Many observers in Azerbaijan are not optimistic about the law on corruption prevention entered into force in January 2005, because they do not believe in the authorities´ intention to resolve the problem. The fact that the corruption prevention commission, “CFAC”, is led by head of presidential administration does not prove that it will perform its functions. As representatives of media and civil society have not been included into this commission, society lost confidence in this agency” reads the article, written by Rena Safaraliyeva, TI-Azerbaijan branch chief.

Mrs.  Safaraliyeva thinks that the drive within the ruling party to develop corruption-related legislation in 2003-04 should be seen as both aimed at appeasing domestic disquiet over corruption in the approach to parliamentary elections, and an attempt to bolster Azerbaijan´s poor reputation for corruption at an international,  particularly European, level. The likelihood of new waves of clashes between competing groups within the government and between government and opposition parties is very real. 

Many experts interpret superficial application of the law as protection of state officials involved in corruption. 

The findings of the report
 According to the report, regional ethnic groups used accusations of corruption. This was especially noticeable when President Heydar Aliyev was ill as well as before and after presidential elections in 2003. In addition, authorities have been accused of monopoly, racketeering and control over state property. In this connection, scandal with Czech businessman Viktor Kozheny, who admitted that gave a bribe of $83 million to Azerbaijani state officials, who promised to privatize state oil company, has been widely used. In addition, Azeri President himself admitted that state officials hold monopoly over trade of such important food products as flour and bread.

The report also reads that very often accusations of corruption are politically motivated. They are organized by Ramiz Mehdiyev with the purpose of manipulation and pressure of some people.   Authorities failed to resolve the problem of monopoly, despite their promises. Delay of application of the law on corruption to the period after parliamentary elections proves that authorities are not in hurry to apply the law and are going to use it in their struggle for power. As far as the corruption prevention commission set up in General ProsecutorÒs Office is concerned, it also depends on executive authorities.
    The goal of the Azerbaijani authorities´ policy regarding corruption is aimed at easing tension inside the country and changing its negative image at an international arena.

OSCE survey also showed “high corruption”
In a recent survey conducted by the OSCE office in Baku among over a thousand people, 87% of respondents indicated the high corruption level in Azerbaijan. Over 59% of the respondents said that they and their family members faced bribery and half of them said that corruption negatively affects public administration. The respondents mainly indicated corruption in health and the law-enforcement, the OSCE representative said.