The countries of the former Soviet bloc, excluding the Baltic states, are generally corruption havens. It is often said that “bribery is a lubricant.” Bribes are commonplace, including those related to admission to universities and other schools, grades, and obtaining a driver’s license.
The most familiar of these is bribes to cover up traffic violations.
While driving, a traffic police officer orders you to stop and gives you a ticket. The process is cumbersome and time-consuming, and there is also the fear that if he talks back to a police officer who has been giving him a hard time about a minor violation, his driver’s license could be confiscated.
It is common knowledge among citizens that there are police officers who are looking for bribes to crack down on police.
It’s human nature to want to get things done quickly even if it costs a little money. Therefore, the following common phrase is used when approaching a police officer.
“Let’s solve it humanely.”
◆Laws can be bypassed
There is a word called kleptocracy. It refers to a system in which a handful of powerful people and their cronies exploit the nation’s wealth.
The most obvious example is Russia’s Putin regime. Mr. Navalny, the opposition leader who exposed the existence of Putin’s lavish palace, remains in prison.
A long time ago, when President Putin was told that he was in trouble for having to bribe officials, he scathingly said, “Cut off the hands of those who ask for bribes.”
That is now… I guess the fish rots from the head on.
Unlike Western Europe, where the spirit of Roman law taught that “agreement is binding,” Russia was strongly influenced by the authoritarian Byzantine civilization.
There is a saying in Russia: “The law is like a telephone pole.” It means that telephone poles are not something you can jump over, but something you can pass through them. It represents the Russian temperament of disregarding the law.
Corrupt officials don’t seem to feel any guilt about getting a pat on the back. Rather, it seems that they consider bribes to be benefits commensurate with their positions.
The former Soviet Union was ruled by Russia for a long time, including during the imperial era. Corruption can be said to be an endemic disease.
The European Union (EU) decided at a summit meeting late last year to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine. For the Zelenskiy administration, which aims to move away from Russia’s gravitational pull towards Europe, membership in the EU is a cherished desire, along with membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
However, the hurdles that Ukraine must overcome are high. The EU states anti-corruption measures and the establishment of the rule of law as conditions for membership.
In the 2022 country corruption survey by Transparency International, a non-governmental organization that monitors corruption around the world, Ukraine ranked 116th out of 180 countries and regions. Although it has improved from before, it remains in the bottom group along with Russia, which is ranked 137th, and other countries of the former Soviet Union.
◆Ukraine’s exit from Russia and Europe
President Zelenskiy has also stepped up his efforts to crack down on corruption, in response to complaints from Europe and the United States, which support Ukraine.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was arrested and removed from office on suspicion of accepting $2.7 million in bribes in return for tweaking the ruling.
In some cases, all the heads of state recruitment offices were dismissed. This was due to rampant corruption in which bribes were accepted in exchange for evading the draft. The average bribe is between $5,000 and $10,000. For comparison, the average salary in Ukraine, one of Europe’s poorest countries, is less than $500 per month.
The head of the Odessa region used his dirty money to buy a villa and a luxury car in Spain worth a total of $5 million. On the front lines, there is no end to those who line their own pockets while watching soldiers fight to the death.
Mr. Putin, who considers Russia and Ukraine to be one, cannot allow Ukraine to turn to the west. They invaded their territory by force to keep them in their territory.This fits perfectly
It definitely had the opposite effect.
On the other hand, the terms of EU membership mean a break with Russia. Rather than reforming the ingrained corrupt constitution, it is equivalent to being reborn into a completely new society. It cannot be achieved with sheer effort.
It will take a long time to join. Ukraine will be tested on its determination to carry out its original aspirations.
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2024-01-06 22:00:37
