Transparency International has published the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2024. This year, Russia scored 22 out of 100 points and ranked 154th out of 180 countries. The same results were recorded for Azerbaijan, Honduras, and Lebanon. This marks the worst performance for Russia in the history of the Index.
The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks 180 countries based on perceived corruption in the public sector. It is calculated using data from 13 expert sources, including the World Bank, Freedom House, private consulting firms, rating agencies, think tanks, and other organisations. The CPI assigns scores from 100 (perceived as free of corruption) to 0 (perceived as highly corrupt).
In 2023, Russia scored 26 points and ranked 141st. At that time, Guinea had the same score but improved in 2024 to 28 points. Even compared to regions with traditionally high levels of corruption, Russia continues to deteriorate in rankings.
War, Secrecy, and Corruption
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has accelerated the degradation of institutions responsible for transparency and accountability. Russia has systematically eliminated independent media and NGOs, restricted access to information on budget expenditures and government procurement. In these conditions, public oversight is nearly impossible, leading to rampant corruption at all levels of governance.
State resources are allocated for military needs without civilian oversight. The secrecy surrounding military contracts, billion-dollar non-competitive procurements, and schemes enriching “insider” contractors have turned the war into a powerful driver of corruption. The authorities use conflicts as a pretext to further restrict transparency and civil liberties, securing complete control over resources.
“Corruption threatens the security and well-being of every individual. Anyone can face demands for bribes in exchange for a guaranteed successful surgery or be coerced into sharing business profits with an official. Furthermore, full-scale war exacerbates corruption risks. Secretive defence contracts, single-source procurements, and classified military budgets are just part of the problem. The war has weakened the anti-corruption framework and undone years of public sector reforms.
Green corruption, which has long remained in the shadows, also deserves attention. Take, for example, the fuel oil spill in the Black Sea and the numerous violations in its cleanup efforts. It took ten days to assess the environmental damage and declare a federal emergency. The consequences of such delays threaten ecological security for decades to come.
Civil society continues to face relentless pressure, but our task is to find resources and creative solutions to overcome challenges and sustain anti-corruption initiatives and investigations,” commented Alyona Vandysheva, Executive Director of Transparency International Russia.
Corruption and the Climate Crisis
The consequences of corruption extend beyond economics and politics, deeply affecting environmental protection. The recent fuel oil spill in the Black Sea is a direct result of regulatory inaction and a failing environmental oversight system.
Lack of proper controls over oil transportation and the use of outdated tankers led to the disaster. Authorities benefit from maintaining opaque schemes, turning a blind eye to severe environmental risks. Without strict anti-corruption measures, such catastrophes will continue.
Corruption also endangers global climate initiatives. Billions of dollars allocated for combating climate change are at risk of embezzlement and misuse. A striking example is the Russian project “Standards and Labelling for Promoting Energy Efficiency,” implemented between 2010 and 2017 under the UN Development Programme and funded by the Global Environment Facility. The project received $7.8 million to improve energy efficiency standards and reduce emissions. However, a significant portion of the budget was spent without tangible results, and the declared goals were never achieved. Audits revealed numerous violations, including inflated costs, lack of competitive procurement, conflicts of interest, and discrepancies between reports and actual work performed.
Another stark example is the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-29) in Azerbaijan, where 1,773 lobbyists from the oil and gas sector were present, while civil society faced restricted access. This highlights the dangers of corporate influence, which undermines climate action in favour of elite interests.
Maíra Martini, CEO of Transparency International said:
“We must urgently root out corruption before it fully derails meaningful climate action. Governments and multilateral organisations must embed anti-corruption measures into climate efforts to safeguard finance, rebuild trust and maximise impact. Today, corrupt forces not only shape but often dictate policies and dismantle checks and balances – silencing journalists, activists and anyone fighting for equality and sustainability. True climate resilience demands tackling these threats directly and decisively. Vulnerable people around the world desperately need this action.“
Global Trends: Stagnation in Anti-Corruption Efforts
The global average CPI score for 2024 remains at 43 points, indicating no significant progress. More than two-thirds of countries scored below 50 points, highlighting systemic issues in ensuring transparency and the rule of law.
Top CPI 2024 Performers:
- Denmark (90 points) – remains in first place since 2018.
- Finland (88 points) and Singapore (84 points) complete the top three “cleanest” countries.
Lowest Ranked Countries:
- South Sudan (8 points), Somalia (9 points), Venezuela (10 points), Syria (12 points), Libya (13 points).
François Valérian, Chair of Transparency International said:
“Corruption is an evolving global threat that does far more than undermine development – it is a key cause of declining democracy, instability and human rights violations. The international community and every nation must make tackling corruption a top and long-term priority. This is crucial to pushing back against authoritarianism and securing a peaceful, free and sustainable world. The dangerous trends revealed in this year’s Corruption Perception Index highlight the need to follow through with concrete action now to address global corruption.”
The average CPI score for Eastern Europe and Central Asia remains at 35 points, making it one of the least transparent regions in the world.
Countries that improved their rankings:
- Moldova (43 points, +1)
- Kazakhstan (40 points, +1)
Countries that declined:
- Ukraine (35 points, -1)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (33 points, -2)
- Belarus (33 points, -4)
- Uzbekistan (32 points, -1)
- Azerbaijan (22 points, -1)
- Kyrgyzstan (25 points, -1)
- Tajikistan (19 points, -1)
- Turkmenistan (17 points, -1)
Countries that remained unchanged:
- Armenia (47 points)
- Serbia (35 points)
- Turkey (34 points)
Recommendations
Transparency International Russia’s legal experts believe that meaningful progress in addressing corruption in Russia is only possible through a radical increase in the transparency of state institutions, the restoration of public oversight, and consistent efforts to enhance government accountability.
Ensuring free access to information is a top priority. All restrictions imposed since 2018 must be lifted, and the publication of data on public procurement, government statistics, state agency reports, and publicly owned companies must be fully restored. Open registries of real estate and legal entities should once again become the norm. The publication of asset declarations by civil servants and politicians must be reinstated, along with the creation of a unified digital public registry for these declarations.
Fighting financial crimes and money laundering requires decisive action. Cryptocurrency providers, including exchanges and trading platforms, should be subject to mandatory registration to counter illicit financial schemes. Crypto farms used for money laundering, particularly in Moscow-City, must be dismantled.
To reform the law enforcement and judicial systems, an independent anti-corruption agency must be established to verify asset declarations, oversee conflicts of interest, and investigate corruption-related crimes. The creation of specialized anti-corruption courts should also be considered. Criminal liability for illicit enrichment must be introduced in accordance with Article 20 of the UN Convention Against Corruption.
Business and private property must be protected. The widespread practice of transferring private assets to state ownership on dubious grounds must be halted.
Civil society and independent media must be allowed to operate without fear of repression. Laws on “foreign agents” and “undesirable organizations,” which are used to suppress independent voices, should be repealed. A whistleblower protection law must be enacted to ensure safeguards against retaliation and dismissal while also providing compensation for verified reports of corruption.
Transparency International Russia calls on the international community to support independent NGOs and media that continue to fight corruption, expose government crimes, and inform the public despite repression and censorship.
For further information, as well as for interview requests and media inquiries, please contact the organization’s PR specialist, Ivan Korzh, at [email protected].