Belarus: Winds of Change Blow Amid Anti-Corruption Efforts

The former Soviet republic of Belarus, often referred to as “Europe’s last dictatorship”, has witnessed a surge in nationwide protests over rigged presidential election results and police brutality against protesters. This unprecedented wave of dissent has been met with violence and intimidation by the authorities, sparking concerns about human rights abuses and the lack of accountability within the government.

A System of Corruption

Despite a slight improvement in its corruption score on the 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Belarus remains a poor performer compared to top-ranked countries. The CPI measures public sector corruption based on expert and business perceptions, but fails to capture electoral fraud, freedom of speech infringement, and human rights abuses that plague the country.

Authoritarian Governance

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s authoritarian governance has created an efficient and punitive system that detects and deters lower- level administrative corruption. However, this system concentrates power in the hands of a few, allowing grand corruption to thrive at the highest levels of government and political elites, where state controls 70% of the economy.

Financial Ties and Sanctions

A recent investigation exposed financial ties between Cyprus and Belarus, revealing business links between Lukashenko’s family and Cyprus companies. The probe also highlighted Cyprus’ attempts to block EU sanctions on Belarus officials over a falsified election, which eventually led to the imposition of sanctions on 40 officials in October 2020.

Combating Bribery

While some efforts have been made to combat bribery, resulting in cases against public officials and businesspeople, the impartiality of the judiciary remains questionable. The president has the right to pardon individuals involved in corruption, and court staffing decisions are determined by the president in a partisan manner.

Challenges to Combating Corruption

• Belarus lacks independent bodies to investigate corruption cases
• Trials often conducted behind closed doors
• Civil society and independent media face significant barriers in their efforts to combat corruption
  • Denied access to data on corruption
  • Journalists often jailed for reporting on it
• International organizations and experts are limited in assessing the situation due to a lack of transparency

A Path Forward

Belarus can only escape the clutches of corruption with radical change and empowered citizens who can hold their government accountable. The recent protests offer hope that the country will restore checks and balances, ensure accountability, and bring democracy to its people.