Kazakhstan climbs 25 points to rank 120th in corruption perception index, Transparency International

As reported, Kazakhstan was ranked 84th in 1999, 66th in 2000, 71stin 2001, 100th in 2003, 122nd in 2004, 102nd in 2005, 111th in 2006,150th in 2007 and 145the in 2008.

Transparency International (TI) has placed Kazakhstan 120th in the 2009 corruption perception index that shows an improvement of 25 points.

"... According to the corruption perception index that covers 180 countries issued by Transparency International, Kazakhstan has improved its ranking by 25 points from 145th in 2008 to 120th in 2009," according to the press statement from the committee on corruption fighting posted on the Kazakh president's web-site.

"On one hand, this shows a recognition of the efficient corruption fighting strategy of our president and a series of consistent steps made by the authorized agencies. On the other hand, it suggests the need to consolidate the efforts of our society to fight this social evil," Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanaat Sudabayave was quoted as saying.

In a recent year and a half, the Financial Police has intensified its preventive anticorruption efforts which is reflected in a string of notorious trials involving high-rank officials and state executives.

As reported, Kazakhstan was ranked 84th in 1999, 66th in 2000, 71st in 2001, 100th in 2003, 122nd in 2004, 102nd in 2005, 111th in 2006, 150th in 2007 and 145the in 2008.

In 2009 as many as 180 countries were included in the survey.

Transparency International, an international non-governmental and non-commercial organization leading the fight against corruption, was founded in 1993. Today the organization is based in Berlin and has offices in 80 countries of the world.

Interfax-Kazakhstan