The influence of corruption lately has mostly reduced on the administrative level, the sociological survey performed by Latvian Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) shows. KNAB concludes that the corruption is down on the administrative level, while more and more society members think that the corruption on the high level is growing. The society does not believe in the honesty of state officials, who claim they are interested in combating corruption. In comparison to 2005, the public trust in higher state governing institutions -- parliament and government has declined.
Although the number of people, who claim tat they are unaware of corruption cases has increased from 6.1 percent to 15 percent in 2007, as many as 39.5 percent of the residents say that their friends and relatives told about their experience and 13.4 percent had to perform unofficial payments to solve their problems.
The personal experience of the residents shows that in the daily contacts with the state and municipality officials, the corruption is on the decline.
The survey shows that 93.8 percent of residents did not have to make unofficial payments while changing or acquiring passport, 92.8 percent while solving issues at the state revenue service and 87.4 percent did not need to make additional payments while registering vehicles or performing technical checkup of these. Of the residents, who contacted municipality officials 86.7 did not have to give bribes and in 84.1 percent of the cases when solving issues connected with the EU structural funds, bribes were not given.
About 17.3 percent of the residents gave bribes to Traffic Police, 16.6 percent paid in the hospitals or polyclinics, 13.8 percent had to give money when receiving licenses for business activities of renovation of the house. While solving customs issues, 9.3 percent of residents gave bribes and the issues of company purchases to perform state or municipality orders were linked with bribery in 9.3 percent of the cases as well.
When Latvian President Valdis Zatlers was asked to comment KNAB survey on Wednesday after meeting Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis, he said: "The public must understand that state is what protects the public. If an individual feels that the state cares for them, they will trust parliament, government and police."
The comment of Godmanis was short - trust is achieved by work.
The sociological survey with participation of 2,010 respondents was performed on the commission from KNAB to find out how often the residents of Latvia face the corruption.
By LatviaNews.Com
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Latvian corruption watchdog's survey points to reduction of corruption