Do you know how much money we paid in order to get so high on that anti-corruption list (Norway)? ....... ooops
The way it works here ... an example: I was invited to a meeting with a possible customer (huge consultant company) and was provided an offer for free concert trickets... concert after the meeting; where PJ Harvey and other star performers were there. Very attractive yes?
Well I refused even without asking management, because any such things represents more than a modest value, and as such falls into the anti-corruption / anti bribery regulations!
Possibly I could even face serious consequences in my company by accepting such an offer!
This is the normal attitude of what is expected and shown by everyone I know, in Norway!
Here are a few snips from Freedom House on Ukraine.
>>>The Russian regime’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 led to significant deterioration in the political rights and civil liberties enjoyed by Ukrainians. The numerical scores and status listed here do not reflect conditions in the previously occupied Ukrainian territories of Crimea and Eastern Donbas, which are examined in separate reports. . . .
The Russian armed forces launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, inflicting massive civilian and military casualties and destroying civilian infrastructure. . . . Russian troops have engaged in extrajudicial executions, torture, and sexual violence against local residents. . . .
International observers deemed the election [in 2019] competitive and credible, although polling could not take place in Crimea and Eastern Donbas. . . .
In November 2023, Zelenskyy announced that the parliamentary elections originally due that year would not be held while the country remained under martial law and in a state of war. While the decision drew some criticism, a poll by the International Republican Institute found that nearly two-thirds of respondents supported postponing elections until after the war’s end. Experts pointed out that elections held under current conditions would pose significant security risks for citizens and could not be conducted in occupied areas, and that millions of Ukrainian refugees abroad, IDPs, and soldiers on the front line would likely be excluded in practice. . . .
The TVK generally administers elections professionally. However, the mixed electoral system for the parliament that governed past polls, including the most recent parliamentary elections in 2019, was criticized as prone to manipulation and vote buying. . . . Martial law prohibits calling and holding elections or referendums at both the national and local levels as long as it remains in effect. . . . Prior to the 2022 invasion, with the exception of a ban on the Communist Party, there were no formal barriers to the creation and operation of political parties in Ukraine. However, in May 2022, Zelenskyy signed a law banning political parties that justify, recognize as legitimate, or deny Russian aggression against Ukraine. . . .
Zelensky’s ruling party currently holds most political power. However, Ukrainian politics have long featured dynamic competition. Opposition groups are represented in the parliament, and their political activities are generally not impeded by administrative restrictions or legal harassment.
Under a 2022 presidential decree, Ukraine’s main news channels broadcast only government-approved content and give airtime predominantly to ruling-party representatives, limiting opposition parties’ avenues for exposure. . . .
Powerful Ukrainian business magnates, commonly referred to as oligarchs, exert significant influence over politics both directly and indirectly, including through financial support for political parties and lobbying for the appointment of loyalists to key institutional positions. However, individuals defined as oligarchs under a 2021 law have been prohibited from funding political parties. . . .
Corruption remains a serious problem, and political will to fight it has been inconsistent. Anticorruption agencies have repeatedly been ensnared in politically fraught conflicts with other state entities and elected officials.
Despite the severe disruption to governance caused by the 2022 full-scale invasion, authorities have been able to push through improvements to the country’s anticorruption apparatus and open significant investigations. . . .
Poor government transparency has long helped to facilitate corruption, and transparency has declined as a result of the ongoing war and martial law. . . .
The retreat of Russian troops from towns in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson Oblasts, among other areas, revealed mounting evidence of Russian war crimes, including targeted executions, rape, and torture of Ukrainian civilians. . . .
The constitution guarantees freedoms of speech and expression, and libel is not a criminal offense. Prior to 2022, the media landscape featured considerable pluralism and open criticism of the government and powerful figures. However, a number of Russian outlets were banned, and business magnates owned and influenced many outlets. . . .
A week after Moscow launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian lawmakers, in the absence of meaningful public comment, amended the criminal code to expand grounds for collaborationism charges to include public denial of Russian aggression, glorification of Russia, and insulting the honor and dignity of Ukrainian soldiers. . . .
The constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly but requires organizers to give the authorities advance notice of demonstrations. . . . Martial law enacted after the full-scale invasion restricted the constitutional guarantee of freedom of assembly. . . . Civil society organizations are required to disclose their ultimate beneficiaries and ownership structure under money-laundering legislation; leaders of many groups have characterized this as interference in their work. . . .
Ukraine has long suffered from corrupt and politicized courts, and reform initiatives meant to address the issue have often stalled or fallen short of expectations. However, despite the ongoing war, authorities have implemented some recent improvements. . . . The government has taken steps to scale back regulation of private businesses in recent years, though the business environment is affected by widespread corruption. . . .<<<
See the Freedom in the World 2024 score and learn about democracy and freedom in Ukraine.
freedomhouse.org
I would sum up their comments on Russia as "It's a sh*t show."
>>>Power in Russia’s authoritarian political system is concentrated in the hands of President Vladimir Putin. With subservient courts and security forces, a controlled media environment, and a legislature consisting of a ruling party and pliable opposition factions, the Kremlin manipulates elections and suppresses genuine opposition. Rampant corruption facilitates shifting links among state officials and organized crime groups. Since the regime launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, authorities have intensified restrictions on individual rights and liberties in order to stifle domestic dissent. <<<
See the Freedom in the World 2024 score and learn about democracy and freedom in Russia.
freedomhouse.org
