Russia’s Corruption Problem Gets Worse
Transparency International, a group that monitors corruption around the world, has just released its 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index. Russia came in at number 154 out of 180 countries, which is its worst performance ever.
The report says that autocratic regimes like Russia are more likely to have high levels of corruption because they don’t have strong checks and balances. This means that people in power can do whatever they want without being held accountable.
Russia’s score has actually gotten worse since last year. In 2023, it ranked 141st with a score of 26 points. This year, it got just 22 points, which is much lower.
Ukraine, on the other hand, did slightly better than Russia in the corruption rankings. It came in at number 105 with a score of 35 points. Ukraine has been working to reduce corruption since the revolution that overthrew President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.
The report notes that despite the Russian invasion, Ukraine is making some progress in fighting corruption. However, there’s still much work to be done, especially if Ukraine wants to join Western political structures like the EU.
Moldova and Albania also did better than Russia in the rankings. Moldova improved its score by three points, while Albania increased its score by five points. The European Union’s average score actually dropped this year, which is a concern.
The report highlights that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has further entrenched authoritarianism in Russia. This means that dissenting voices are being silenced, and the government is using resources to support its military agenda instead of helping people.
