Corruption is one of the most serious and unsurmountable problem of transitional period of Azerbaijan. “The OSCE intends to assist Azerbaijan in fighting corruption”, head of the OSCE office in Baku Mauricio Pavesi told a roundtable, “Government agencies combating corruption”, organized by Azerbaijan Young Lawyers Union (AYLU). 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. (25-FEB-2005)
Pavesi said that OSCE will help Azerbaijan improve its legislation in this area. Direct economic losses from corruption by different estimations are ten million dollars a year.
Survey shows “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.
Passive resistance to corruption
Pavesi noted that the survey also showed that the country’s citizens are not actively involved in anti-corruption activities. He welcomed the establishment of the legal framework in the country to fight corruption.
Pavesi said that the respondents’ opinions are based on what they witnessed but not on any press reports. He added that one of the alarming facts is that more than half of the respondents are not aware that the country has adopted the anti-corruption law.
Speaking at the event, the legal counselor for the US embassy in Azerbaijan Bass Srinan said that the draft law on fighting money laundering has been developed and submitted to the government of Azerbaijan. It will be put on discussion at the country’s parliament shortly, he added.
A US Justice Department official Paul Bueran said that the anti-corruption measures would be inefficient unless the mentioned law passes.
President of the Constitutional Fund, MP Alimammad Nuriyev criticized the current make-up of the anti-corruption bodies. He said that the anti-corruption activities will not be efficient, as long as such bodies depend on the executive power. Nuriyev proposed to set up an independent agency dealing with the problem, pointing out the relevant international experience. He questioned the independence of the anti-corruption department under the Prosecutor General.
