Transparency International has warned about lack of progress in fight of corruption in five Eastern Partnership countries.

In a new report the organization says corruption remains a major problem in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, threatening economic development and political stability as well as the credibility of governments.

While some progress has been made in adopting anti-corruption laws in all five countries, the capture of important institutions by powerful interests is seriously undermining the effective enforcement of these laws, Transparency International said. 

The recommendations to Armenia say the government and parliament should ban members of parliament and senior public officials from engaging in business activities. Sanctions for such actions should be introduced, including for those who are aware of such practices but do not report them.

The judiciary should significantly speed up the prosecution rate of corruption offences, giving greater priority to prosecuting high-level officials in order to build trust among citizens in the judiciary’s commitment to fighting corruption.

In order to build the capacity and sustainability of civil society, the government should ease the tax regulations for CSOs so that they are not classified as for-profit organisations.