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The latest Corruption Perception Report for the occupied areas of Cyprus has painted a troubling picture, revealing a worsening trend in corruption levels. The report, authored by Prof. Dr. Sertac Sonan and Prof. Dr. Omer Gokcekus, ranks the region 140th out of 180 countries, with a score of 26, dropping one point from last year.
While the ranking remained unchanged, the decline in score widened the gap with Turkey, which now stands eight points higher, and the government-controlled areas of Cyprus, which improved from 53 to 56 points. This increased the disparity between the two sides of the island from 26 to 30 points.
The survey, conducted with 352 businesspeople and experts, underscores widespread concerns about corruption. An alarming 75% of businesspeople believe bribery is common, and 74% consider corruption a serious issue. Two-thirds say the situation has deteriorated over the past year, with only 4% reporting any improvement.
Key areas of concern include public tenders, licensing, and the distribution of state-owned land, while the judiciary, municipal services, and utilities were perceived as less affected. Nonetheless, one in three respondents admitted to offering bribes or gifts to facilitate transactions.
Electoral corruption is also a significant issue, with 61% of respondents believing vote-buying is prevalent and 34% saying voters face pressure. Additionally, 62% think political decisions are controlled by a small elite.
Accountability remains weak, as 45% of respondents believe corrupt officials are never punished, and only 13% feel corruption cases are regularly prosecuted. Alarmingly, public acceptance of corruption is growing—25% now see it as acceptable to use personal connections for services, a sharp rise from 5% in 2022.
The findings place the occupied areas alongside countries like Liberia, Mali, Pakistan, and Nigeria, reinforcing concerns over governance and transparency.
With information from Cyprus Mirror.
