Moldova among most corrupt nations, says watchdog

Moldova's latest corruption ranking of just 2.9 puts it alongside African countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and Mozambique

LONDON (Tiraspol Times) - Moldova is perceived to be among the most corrupt countries in the world, according to the leading Western anticorruption watchdog.

Based on the annual Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International released Wednesday, the Republic of Moldova ranks near the bottom of the 180 nations studied, with a 2.8 rating, along with Mozambique, Uganda, Rwanda and other African nations which are generally referred to as failed states.

The index score relates to perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts and ranges between zero, which is highly corrupt, and 10, which is very clean.

In the top 10 of the least corrupt countries are: Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand, with a 9.4 rating, at no. 1; Singapore and Sweden, 9.3, no. 4; Iceland, 9.2, no. 6; Netherlands and Switzerland, 9.0, no. 7; Canada and Norway, 8.7, no. 9.

Average countries - with a 5 rating - fall in the middle: 50% clean and 50% corrupt. With a 2.8 rating, Moldova is near the bottom. No other European country has the same rating, but 2.8 is shared by Eritrea, Mozambique, Rwanda, the Solomon Islands, Uganda, and a Central American "basket case" country; Guatemala.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Efim Obreja, an expert from Transparency International, compared Moldova to a number of African countries where corruption is out of control. According to Reporter.md, Obreja said that the World Bank classed the countries that scored around three points as states with uncontrolled corruption.

Less corruption in Transdniestria

Due a lack of international recognition, Transdniestria (officially: Pridnestrovie) is not included in the index, but sources consulted by journalists are of the opinion that the new and emerging state is significantly less corrupt than Moldova. Tough anti-corruption laws have resulted in the arrest of several government officials, and one former cabinet member, ex-Justice Minister Victor Balala, was forced to flee the country after his involvement in a dubious privatization case was uncovered by the Tiraspol press.

Pro-independence activists in Transdniestria often cite Moldova's lack of honest government as one of the reasons for not wanting to join the country in the two-sided union state which is sought by Moldova, and in which the smaller Transdniestria would be a junior partner.

Under the rule of Communist president Vladimir Voronin, which many now characterize as a mis-rule, Moldova has officially become Europe's poorest country while the Voronin family has increased its wealth beyond limits not seen since the fall of Ceauşescu in Romania. The son of the president, Oleg Voronin, is widely believed to be the richest man in Moldova. According to a list of Eastern Europe's richest families which was published in American publication last week, Oleg Voronin is a billionaire, which is due in large part thanks to his father's connections.

Instead of improving, corruption in Moldova is getting worse and worse every year. The failed state is sliding from bad to worse, having had a 3.2 rating in 2006 and a 2.9 rating in 2005. This year's rank of 2.8 is the lowest for Moldova in its 16 year history as an independent country.

Things could be even worse for Moldova, however. According to Transparency International's index, countries which are even more corrupt than Moldova include Haiti, Somalia and U.S.-occupied Iraq.

See also:
» Watchdog: Moldova one of the most corrupt countries in the world
» Failed state index ranks Moldova as worst in Europe
» Voronin clan named country's richest, but heir will "never return to Moldova"