Corruption breaks new records in Moldova

Moldovans are forced to hand over bribes 80.7 % of the times they want visas and in 57.2 % of all customs related matters

CHISINAU (Tiraspol Times) - Being in charge of Moldova's government is a lucrative business, as long as you can still get money from the people who are left in the country. A large percentage of Moldova's working-age population has already gone abroad, but those who remain in the country are targeted for bribes like never before.

The country's government has been listed as Europe's most corrupt in a number of international studies, and the latest to weigh in is Transparency International with a fresh survey released this week.

According to the poll, which was conducted on a sample of 1105 people in Moldova between 23 February and 10 March 2008, incidents of corruption now breaks new records in Moldova. The polls excluded nearby Transdniestria (Pridnestrovie), which has 'de facto' not been a functioning part of Moldova since 1990.

Corruption, poverty and unemployment

Corruption is one of Moldova's main problems, Transparency International Director Lilia Carasciuc said at a 22 April press conference in Chisinau. Over 80% of Moldovans think that corruption is holding back the development of their country.

" - According to the survey, people place corruption as third among the problems they meet, it following only poverty and unemployment. The business people also feel that, and place this phenomenon as second after great taxes," says Lilia Carasciuc.

Over 76% of the Moldovans are prepared to pay a bribe, Basa Press reports. The percentage is higher when reported to the business people: over 81%.

According to the survey, Moldovans pay bribes in 80.7% of the cases when they try to get visas to leave their country. Many need visas to be able to work abroad. Among the lucky ones who manage to get out, most show no inclination of ever wanting to return.

Crossing the border in and out of Moldova, crooked customs officers demand their baksheesh 57.2 % of the time. And if that wasn't enough, once you are inside Moldova you will be forced to cough up even more cash: In dealing with police, bribes are required in 51.2% of all cases.

Transdniestria doesn't want to join

In Moldova, to get basic services like health care, frequent bribes are also needed (42.5 %) and the same goes for education (36.3%). In February, Tiraspol Times published the results of a study by Nils Kauffman, a doctoral candidate in educational policy and international education development at Michigan State University, which showed that institutional corruption had reached record highs in Moldova schools.

Businesses in Moldova suffer from tax shakedowns, with bribes required in 31.9% of all fiscal inspections. About 39% of the respondents made unofficial payments in different institutions and areas, according to the survey. For fiscal year 2007, the volume of "unofficial payments" reached 590 million lei, the survey shows.

Already functioning as an independent country for the past 18 years, the unrecognized state of Transdniestria has shown little interest in joining a state which has the distinction of being the most corrupt in Europe. Moldova maintains an old territorial claim on the area, but the population of Transdniestria (also known as Transnistria) has shown an overwhelming preference for independence.

The survey looked at corruption in six different areas affecting how Moldovans interact with the state: judicial, customs, tax collection, law enforcement, education and health care. The survey was made by the Centre of Sociological Investigations and Studies CBS-AXA on a sample of 1105 people, with a 3% margin of error.

See also:
» Moldova among most corrupt nations, says watchdog
» Corruption reaches record highs in Moldova schools; situation better in PMR
» Moldova police most corrupt, report reveals

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