Watchdog: Moldova one of the most corrupt countries in the world

Among those who still remain in Moldova, nearly half of all families are forced to pay bribes to get access to justice says T.I.

CHISINAU (Tiraspol Times) - A German investigation singles out Moldova's judicial system among the nine most corrupt in the world. In its 2007 Global Corruption report, Transparency International (TI) lists Moldova as one of nine countries worldwide where nearly half of all families have been forced to pay a bribe in order to get access to justice.

The Germany-based anti corruption organization has called for a more independent and transparent judiciary in Moldova, hitting out at corrupt practices which they say are making “ordinary people suffer needlessly”.

In its 2007 Global Corruption report, Transparency International said in more than 25 countries around the world at least one in ten households had to pay a bribe in order to get access to justice. In another 20 countries, the proportion was three in ten, or 30%.

But the worst criticism was singled out for nine countries where the figure approaches half, or 50% of all families. According to the watchdog group, the number of people paying bribes is highest in Albania, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Peru, Taiwan and Venezuela.

" - If money and influence are the basis of justice, the poor cannot compete," Akere Muna, of Transparency International, said.

" - Bribery not only makes justice unaffordable, it ruins the capacity of the justice system to fight against corruption and to serve as a beacon of independence and accountability."

Corruption undermining justice in Moldova

There is harsh criticism of the way that justice is carried out - or rather, NOT carried out - in corrupt Moldova.

" - Equal treatment before the law is a pillar of democratic societies. When courts are corrupted by greed or political expediency, the scales of justice are tipped, and ordinary people suffer,” Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International, said in the report. “Judicial corruption means the voice of the innocent goes unheard, while the guilty act with impunity."

Another recent study revealed ethnic bias and preferentialism in how the top jobs in Moldova are doled out. The country is rife with racial discrimination, and 99% of the government administration's leadership positions are held by ethnic Moldovans. Moldova is a multi-ethnic country with large minorities of Russians, Ukrainians and Gagauz. Despite paying taxes and, as Transparency International confirms, a large amount of bribes, they are virtually excluded from a career in the public sector by a system favoring the ethnic Moldovan majority.

" - This is not a country," says a Chisinau-resident and member of an ethnic minority who wants to remain anonymous for fear of persecution. "It is a corrupt sinkhole masquerading as a state, but it is really all about finding ways to swindle cash away from the European Union, the United States and the citizens of Moldova."

Mired in corruption and poverty, 30% of the working age population have already left Moldova and another 800,000 are seeking foreign citizenships.

The international NGO also noted that “opaque court processes that foster bribery can also prevent the media and civil society from monitoring court activity and exposing judicial corruption.”

Among their proposed solutions to judicial corruption were: independent judicial appointment bodies as well as transparency in judicial proceeding and the provision of more information about court activities.

Reform-drive to modernize court system, human rights

Between Moldova and Ukraine, on the left bank of the Dniester river, Transdniestria has already carried out a number of the reforms that Transparency International recommends. Most of this has happened since the opposition party Renewal won a majority in parliament and took control of the unrecognized country's legislature in 2005.

The PMR Supreme Court has frequently ruled against the government, sometimes overturning laws that it deemed unconstitutional. Minorities, including gays and lesbians, can address the court directly when they feel their human rights may have been violated. This is not possible in Moldova.

Last year, the office of Human Rights Ombudsman was established in Transdniestria (officially: Pridnestrovie). Based in Tiraspol, and with a second office due to open shortly in Bender, the Ombudsman institution is wholly autonomous.

While not perfect, the rule of law and the human rights situation has improved dramatically in recent years as Transdniestria has been modernizing, opening up to the world and applying European standards in an effort to implement reform and obtain international recognition of its statehood. (With information from UPI, Newsday)

See also:
» Institutionalized kleptocracy
» Son of Moldova's president defends his riches: "I don't steal other companies"