On October 26, Transparency International published the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2010 results. The CPI measures the perceived level of public-sector corruption in 178 countries and territories around the world.

Executive Director of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center (Transparency International Armenia) Varuzhan Hoktanyan said in Yerevan that the CPI indices basically worsen, as over 45 countries score below five, on a scale from 10 (highly clean) to 0 (highly corrupt).

According to Varuzhan Hoktanyan, the following countries showed an improvement from 2009 to 2010: Bhutan, Chile, Ecuador, FYR Macedonia, Gambia, Haiti, Jamaica, Kuwait and Qatar. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Madagascar, Niger and the United States showed deterioration from 2009 to 2010:.

According to the survey, Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore are tied at the top of the list – they are the least vulnerable to corruption.

As for Armenia and its neighbors – Turkey and Iran, no significant changes in the CPI were recorded here. “The difference makes 0.1% compared to 2009. Armenia’s index has declined from 2.7 to 2.6. No real changes can be recorded here from the point of view of statistics. One can say that Armenia’s CPI is in period of stagnation,” said Varuzhan Hoktanyan.