Prevention of corruption is the combined task of many state institutions and although the results of the Corruption Perception Index published on 25 January 2021 and Latvia’s position on it, when compared to the previous year, indicate slight improvements, there is still a lot left to do to organize this sector.
It is important to keep in mind that reduction of corruption is not the duty of law enforcement institutions alone – a lot also depends on the honesty and desire to follow the law by people in the state and private sectors, stresses the Chief of Internal Security Bureau (IDB) Valters Mūrnieks.
It is noteworthy that multiple factors used in methodology of the Corruption Perception Index are tied directly to the procurement field, which, in turn, correlates with the bureau’s investigations performed last year and crimes uncovered with procurements, which resulted in major damages to the state administration. Possible losses for the state budget from those crimes are measured in millions.
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To ensure principles of good management and transparency are met, all institutions should engage in the process to improve internal control measures and improve the understanding of problems and risks involved among all workers, high-ranking ones included.
At the same time, it is necessary to define ethics norms and values in state administration for residents.
As long as some of the officials working in the public sector continue abusing their power for illegal goals, Latvia’s results in Corruption Perception Index will not change much.
«Law enforcers and the legal system as a whole should ensure the principle of inevitability of punishment,» stresses the chief of IDB. This is why one of IDB’s standing strategic priorities is the investigation and prevention of crimes committed by officials for the purpose of acquisition of monetary benefit.
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Reduction and prevention of corruption is a long-term process in which society plays a major role by reporting illegal activities.
Mūrnieks adds: «As long as a large portion of the country’s residents continue passively watching different corruption-related crimes being committed almost every month and if they do not critically assess how efficiently and honestly finances of the state budget are being used, corruption will continue sucking the resources better put to use to develop the country in its vitally important areas – public safety, health, education, economy and welfare.»
IDB: corruption will remain in Latvia as long as officials abuse their power
