Uzbekistan Climbs in Corruption Perceptions Index
Uzbekistan Improves Its Ranking in Corruption Perceptions Index 2023
Transparency International, an international anti-corruption organization, has recently released the Corruption Perceptions Index for 2023. In the latest ranking, Uzbekistan has shown improvement by moving up five places compared to the 2022 index, securing the 121st spot among 180 countries. The country shares this position with Angola, Mongolia, and Peru.
According to the 100-point index (where 0 represents an extremely high level of corruption and 100 signifies an extremely low level), Uzbekistan scored 33 points, compared to 31 points the previous year. This marks a significant improvement from its rankings in 2021 and 2020, where it placed 140th and 146th, respectively.
Transparency International’s regional review highlighted several measures that have contributed to Uzbekistan’s positive progress in the index. These include the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Agency, improvements in legislation, and the liberalization of the economy. The organization also noted that the government has implemented stricter internal control and audit mechanisms in various ministries and local governments to combat bribery and corruption.
However, despite these advancements, the review also pointed out that the authoritarian system in Uzbekistan continues to resist the principles of transparency and democracy. There are concerns about the lack of control over legislative and state institutions, as well as attempts to use the justice system to persecute dissidents, which ultimately contributes to increased corruption. Comprehensive reforms are deemed necessary to address these challenges.
In the broader Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, Georgia emerged as the top performer, securing the 49th spot with 53 points. Kazakhstan followed at 93rd place with 39 points, while Belarus and Ukraine ranked 98th and 104th with 37 and 36 points, respectively. Kyrgyzstan and Russia shared the 141st spot with 26 points, while Tajikistan and Turkmenistan ranked 162nd and 170th, scoring 20 and 18 points, respectively.
Denmark once again topped the list, securing the highest score of 90 points, followed by Finland with 87 points and New Zealand with 85 points. On the other end of the spectrum, Syria and Venezuela shared the 177th spot with 13 points, while Somalia ranked last at 180th place with just 11 points.
The Corruption Perceptions Index serves as a crucial tool for assessing the state of corruption worldwide and highlighting the ongoing efforts and challenges in combating this pervasive issue. The positive progress made by Uzbekistan in the 2023 index reflects the country’s commitment to addressing corruption, although there remains a need for sustained reforms to further improve transparency and accountability within the nation.
