Corruption in Lithuania
ENThe negative impact of corruption on a country and its population is tremendous. It affects state politics, economics, administration, the legal and social sphere, and precipitates a negative international perception of state prestige. The purpose of this article is to describe the status of corruption in Lithuania in comparison with other European Union member states and other counties, discuss achievements in the creation of an anti-corruption legal framework, analyze how corruption affects democracy in Lithuania and, finally, assess corruption in Lithuania by comparing cultural conditions in Lithuania versus selected European Union countries. Based on corruption analysis data collected by international organizations, the level of corruption in Lithuania is on the rise. More than a few international organizations performing such research have come to similar conclusions. According to data compiled by the international corruption prevention organization Transparency International, Lithuania has made some strides, but in 2008 the corruption perception index worsened, bringing it back to 2004 levels.
