DUSHANBE, July 16, 2008, Asia-Plus — Corruption affects all elements of society, discouraging the young and the entrepreneurs, and thus significantly hampering economic development in the country.
Asia-Plus asked Abduvohid Shamolov, the head of department for national strategy and socioeconomic programs within the Center for Strategic Studies, to outline problems of corruption and reasons for corruption in Tajikistan.
Asked why anticorruption measures have been introduced mainly against educational and medical workers and are not implemented against corrupt state officials, including ministers and local authorities, Shamolov said, “At the present stage, combating corruption among state officials at the level of heads of ministries and organizations may affect the stable situation in the country.”
He admits that corruption has affected state officials as well. However, he considers that it is still early to start fighting corrupt ministers. “Although our state is becoming stronger; however, it is unknown what response this fight will draw,” the expert said, noting that the fight against corrupt state officials may cause “chain reaction.” According to him, the fight against corrupt state officials should start at the next stages of development of society.
Shamolov noted that at the recent meeting with the anticorruption agency head he had suggested on behalf of the Center for Strategic Studies that the agency should concluded bilateral agreements on joint anticorruption measures with all government bodies and institutions of civil society. “In this case, all institutions would realize obligatoriness and significance of combating corruption,” he said.
“Over the one-and-half-year activity of the anticorruption agency, we have seen positive changes, especially in the fight against illegal allotment of lands,” said the expert. “” However, it is necessary to work out the single mechanism of combating corruption.”
