“Strengthening the National Ecosystem against Corruption in Uzbekistan” joint project conducted a study that assessed the public and government's attitude towards corruption. The Anti-Corruption Agency reported this.
The study, conducted in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) of the Republic of Korea, the Seoul Policy Center of the UN Development Programme, and the European Union, is based on the data of more than 500 survey participants and the opinions of over 20 anonymous employees of state ministries and agencies.
The study gathered essential information about public opinion in 14 regions of Uzbekistan using target groups, expert interviews, and telephone surveys. All 14 regions were represented equally, and the number of respondents did not significantly vary. Men and women, as well as urban and rural residents, participated equally in this survey. The age group of 25 to 34 years old constituted the majority (38 percent of the total number).
According to the study results, the public often perceives corruption as bribery and nepotism. For more than 50 percent of the respondents, corruption is abuse of power and nepotism, and for less than 40 percent, it is giving valuable gifts.
Public opinion on corruption:
- 54.8 percent — abuse of official position;
- 51.4 percent — giving preference to relatives in employment (nepotism);
- 49.6 percent — expressing gratitude in monetary form to a civil servant;
- 49.2 percent — using official position for personal interests;
- 47.2 percent — influencing the shaping of laws and normative documents for personal interests;
- 44.4 percent — civil servants receiving monetary gifts;
- 42.8 percent — appropriation of goods and services intended for public consumption;
- 38.4 percent — civil servants receiving valuable gifts.
Most people regard giving gifts not as corruption, but as a sign of gratitude. Taking bribes (88.4 percent) and giving bribes (68.4 percent) are widely condemned, but small gifts for good service are accepted as normal.
Respondents recognized healthcare, education (especially higher education), and local government as the sectors most affected by corruption.
Most susceptible sectors to corruption:
- Medical institutions — 56.4 percent;
- Higher education institutions — 39 percent;
- Preschool education institutions — 27.4 percent;
- General secondary education institutions — 27 percent;
- Local government bodies (municipalities) — 25.6 percent.
Sectors significantly affected by corruption:
- road traffic safety service;
- internal affairs agencies;
- roads;
- construction sector.
Rural residents reported roads to be the most corrupted sector compared to urban residents — respectively 22.2 percent and 12.8 percent.
74.0 percent of respondents are ready to report cases of corruption, including 82.2 percent through an electronic platform or mobile application. 12 percent of respondents consider reporting corruption as negative. The main reasons for not reporting are that it is pointless, nobody pays attention (24.8 percent), not knowing whom to address (20.4 percent), and benefiting from corruption themselves (19.8 percent).
“Imagine, if you need to pay a 10 million Som fine, you agree with the inspector to pay only 2 million. Now think about where the 10 million is and where the 2 million is,” said one of the survey participants.
Half of the respondents are afraid of the consequences of reporting, while 13.8 percent admit to giving money or gifts as a sign of gratitude. Men (79.2 percent) are somewhat more ready to report corruption than women (70.4 percent).
According to respondents, “gift”, “pre-wedding gift”, “thank you” etc., are solely voluntary acts of gratitude, respect, and support.
According to the agency, the purpose of this study is — to identify why people have the wrong perception about corruption and why they hesitate to report cases of corruption. Its objectives include strengthening protection for such informants, increasing accountability and social responsibility between citizens and government officials.
