The British branch of the international organization on combating corruption, Transparency International, in a report released on Tuesday included Ukraine in the group of countries with high levels of corruption in the defense sector.
The level of corruption in the global defense sector is estimated by Transparency International at $20 billion per year.
The report was compiled for two years on the basis of interviews with representatives of defense companies in 82 countries, which accounted for 94% of the global arms market in 2011, or about $1.6 trillion.
In the study the countries are split into seven groups from A (very low risks of corruption) to F (critical levels). Fifty-seven countries (70% of the countries surveyed) were included in Groups D, E and F with a high risk of corruption.
Group D + includes Ukraine (as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kenya, Cyprus, Kuwait, India, Israel, Lebanon, Mexico, Nepal, UAE, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, and South Africa).
Russia, according to Transparency International, was included in Group D – (countries with a high risk of corruption), sharing places with Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Palestinian Authority, Rwanda, Tanzania, Turkey, Belarus and Pakistan. The report notes that the Russian Defense Ministry uses nontransparent procurement mechanisms that increase the corruption component.
In nine countries, including Egypt, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Group F), the analysis did not reveal even the most basic mechanisms of control over defense spending.
A low risk of corruption was recorded only in Germany and Austria.
The report says that great responsibility in this sphere will help save lives and billions of dollars in budget funds.
