Transparency International, an international anti-corruption organization, has published the Corruption Perceptions Index for 2023.
In the new rating, Uzbekistan rose five places compared to 2022 and took 121st place among 180 countries. The country shares this space with Angola, Mongolia and Peru.
According to the 100-point index (where 0 is an extremely high level of corruption, 100 is an extremely low level), Uzbekistan scored 33 points (it was 31 points a year ago). Uzbekistan was 140th in 2021 and 146th in 2020.
In the regional review of the organization, among the main measures that helped to significantly improve the rating of Uzbekistan in recent years, the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Agency, as well as the improvement of legislation and the liberalization of the economy were noted.
“It should be noted that measures and procedures have been developed for the implementation of these laws, and criminal proceedings have been initiated against many corrupt persons. The government has also introduced stricter internal control and audit tools in various ministries and local governments, including anti-bribery mechanisms,” Transparency International experts said.
“However, the authoritarian system resists the introduction of the principles of transparency and democracy, control over legislative and state institutions, and attempts to use the justice system to prosecute dissidents. This increases corruption and indicates the need for comprehensive reforms,” the review reads.
In the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which includes 19 countries (including Uzbekistan), Georgia showed the best result — 49th place (53 points). Kazakhstan took the 93rd place with 39 points.
In the rating, Belarus is in 98th place (37 points), Ukraine is in 104th place (36). Kyrgyzstan and Russia shared 141st place with 26 points.
Tajikistan (20) and Turkmenistan (18) ranked 162 and 170, respectively.
The leader of this year’s rating was again Denmark (90 points). It is followed by Finland (87) and New Zealand (85).
At the bottom of the list are Syria, which shares 177th place with Venezuela (13 points) and Somalia (180th place, 11 points).
