(April 6, 2004) A Freedom House study released today finds that pervasive corruption and weak judicial systems are major impediments to the development of democracy in transitional societies.

(March 31, 2004) There has been a sea change in the international legal system now. Some 35 countries have acceded to the OECD Convention Against Corruption, which means that those firms now cannot bribe abroad with impunity in places like Africa.

(March 25, 2004) In a landmark money-laundering trial in a U.S. court, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko stands accused of using U.S. banks to launder at least $114 million in money stolen from the Ukraine. Lazarenko insists the proceeds were earned legally and that he is being persecuted for having mounted a political challenge to Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma ahead of a 1999 election.

(March 12, 2004) Speaking at a national anticorruption conference, President Leonid Kuchma called for an effective policy to end “the virus of corruption” and pledged to implement a “tough and truly effective policy against corruption.”

(March 4, 2004) According to an enquiry conducted by Political & Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd, a well-known Hong Kong consulting group, Indonesia, India and Vietnam are considered the three most corrupt countries in Asia.