The reasoning behind the decision was to improve the quality of the Government and better coordination with the work of Parliament and other stakeholders in moving forward the justice reform. The former Minister of Justice claimed that he was notified about the dismissal through the media and accused the Prime Minister of dismissing him for speaking out about corruption and the scale of cannabis cultivation.

The Round table was attended by high-level experts, representatives of public institutions, deputies, prosecutors, lawyers and representatives of civil society. Members of the Technical Secretariat provided a presentation on the draft laws and amendments to the law on the declaration and audit of assets. Participants discussed the draft laws and made some comments and recommendations that will be further assessed by the Parliamentary Committee.

Compared to the previous year, Albania has improved by 5 points. The National Anti-corruption Coordinator, Minister Bledi Çuçi, stated that this is clear proof of the positive effects of reforms implemented by the Government. He stressed that there remains a lot of work to be done, especially in the area of the judiciary which he considered lacking cooperation in the fight against corruption. Alongside the implementation of justice reform, the creation of the Special Prosecution against Corruption as well as the National Bureau of Investigation will enhance the fight against corruption.

According to Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, in the first 100 days of the new Armenian Government, 9% of its legislative and regulatory activities were aimed at fight against CoE anti-corruption digest 2 January 2017 corruption. According to Karapetyan, the efforts being taken are creating an environment in which corruption risks are diminished.

Armenia has been ranked 113 out of 176 counties in the 2016 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. The corruption perception score has gone down by 2 points (from 35 to 33), suggesting that corruption was perceived as more prevalent in 2016 than in 2015.

The meeting held on 21 January 2017 was attended by civil society representatives. The first item on the agenda referred to the reduction of administrative corruption in the provision of public services. Prime Minister Karapetyan stressed the need to involve civil society in the fight against corruption, provide feedback and increase public control. The Prime Minister instructed Minister-Chief of Government Staff David Haroutunyan to initiate a topical discussion with the relevant government departments.

According to the changes, the ban on signing grant contracts with a foreign donor that did not obtain the right to provide grants in Azerbaijan is lifted. Donor registration and grant registration processes are merged into one.

Azerbaijan’s score went up by one point compared to last year. Generally, Azerbaijan’s CPI score has shown a slow upward trend over the last five years, moving from 27 in 2012 to 30 in 2016.

According to the statistics provided in Anti-Corruption Directorate’s annual report, the majority of these criminal cases related to misappropriation and embezzlement, fraud by abusing power, and abuse of official power. Up to 17 percent of the total damages sustained as a result of these cases, worth AZN 202 million (€101 million), was recovered.

Belarus is the 79 least corrupt nation out of 175 countries, according to the 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International. Corruption Rank in Belarus averaged 101.67 from 1998 until 2016, reaching an all-time high of 151 in 2006 and a record low of 36 in 2002. In Belarus the index significantly increased (i.e. improved) over the last year - just 40 points (previously it has hovered around 30). This is a good indicator in comparison with Russia and Ukraine (both received 29 points).

Bosnia and Herzegovina is the 83rd least corrupt nation out of 175 countries, according to the 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International. Corruption Rank in Bosnia and Herzegovina averaged 83.79 from 2003 until 2016, reaching an all-time high of 99 in 2009 and a record low of 70 in 2003.

Bulgaria ranked 75th out of 176 countries and is the most backward of all 28 members of the European Union, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2016. According to Kalin Slavov, CEO of Transparency without Borders, the Bulgarian branch of Transparency CoE anti-corruption digest 3 January 2017 International, the country was expected to be placed below average level in the study.

Assessing the trends over the last decade, the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (MCV) report published on 25 January concludes that while Romania can be credited for “major progress”, especially in its fight against high-level corruption, Bulgaria’s progress “has not been as fast as hoped for”.

The political party “Yes Bulgaria” aims to fight corruption, boost economic growth and improve living standards. The political objective is to capitalize on voters’ disenchantment with a corruption-tainted political establishment in the Black Sea state, which is likely to have its seventh government in the past four years this spring.

New rules for banks under the Amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Act (“the Amendment”) came into effect on 1 January 2017. Under the Amendment, all banks must create an internal risk assessment in written form which should be approved by their managing bodies by 1 July 2017. Subsequently, the risk assessment must be submitted to the Financial Intelligence Unit (which is established by the Amendment as an independent administrative body) within 30 days of its approval.

The Amendment gives certain discretion to the banks when evaluating the application of relevant provisions to individual cases in their day-to-day activity. Such an evaluation should be based mainly on the newly-introduced mechanism of risk assessment.

An anti-money laundering law prepared by the Finance Ministry requires virtual currency exchanges to determine the identity of customers. Bitcoin users will no longer be able to “hide behind fake names or nicknames.” The Finance Ministry determined that it is possible to disguise links to criminal activity using virtual currency and that virtual currency poses a risk of tax fraud.

The Czech Republic has slipped 10 places on a list of 176 countries according to Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Government pledges to curb corruption were largely ineffective last year with warnings that interest groups are “capturing” the state.

Gianni Buquicchio visited Georgia on January 20 to discuss the ongoing constitutional reform progress. Buquicchio met Georgian Parliamentary Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze, who simultaneously chairs the state constitutional commission established in December and has been tasked to table the constitutional amendments before April 30. Speaking at a press conference Kobakhidze reiterated his earlier pledge that all recommendations of the Venice Commission “will be thoroughly discussed.” He added that “The Parliament of Georgia will not adopt any norm, which will be assessed negatively by the Venice Commission from the legal point of view and this statement will definitely be fulfilled”.

Georgia’s score is 57 points and is ranked 44th among 176 countries. Georgia remains ahead of other former Soviet states, except of the Baltic States.

In the report published on 17 January, GRECO acknowledged considerable progress in reducing corruption in Georgia and welcomed the recently launched reform of the prosecution service with the view of de-politicising it. Furthermore GRECO noted measures taken to prevent corruption among the members of parliament and increase accountability of their work and stressed the need to carry on with the important reform of the judiciary.

By the end of June 2018, the authorities of Georgia are to report back on measures taken to implement the 16 recommendations included in this report. GRECO will then assess the implementation of the recommendations in a compliance report in the second half of 2018.

Following a referral from the Financial Intelligence Unit and media reports, 14 individuals have seen their assets frozen following an investigation in the south of Jordan. This development comes after the launch this month of the 10-year National Strategy of Integrity and Anti-Corruption in Jordan and vows by Jordanian officials to step up their fight against corruption.

The fall in the ranking is mostly explained by an increase in “petty corruption” among some categories of public servants. The overall results also indicate that there is a connection between corruption and inequality, which is on the rise in Jordan.

According to CPI 2016, Kosovo* has made progress compared to 2015 report, now rated with 36 points and ranked as 95th out of 176 countries worldwide. In 2015, Kosovo was ranked 103rd with 33 points. Although in a better position than last year, in this report Kosovo is again placed last in the region in comparison to other countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and Montenegro.

Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, General Prosecutor’s Office, Security Council, Financial Police, Supreme Court and Tax authority met on 19 and 20 January with Council of Europe representatives to discuss European standards and monitoring mechanisms in the areas of anti-corruption, antimoney laundering and mutual legal assistance standards. Cases adjudicated by the European Court of Human Rights in the area of corruption, economic crime and asset recovery were also debated.

According to Corruption Perceptions Index, released by the Transparency International on 25 January, Kyrgyzstan ranks the 136th out of 176 countries with the score of 28 out of 100. Kyrgyzstan previously scored 24 points in 2014 and 27 points in 2015.

As the country struggles to meet its short-term financial needs. Moldova is facing a number of significant challenges, including corruption and bad governance. The Macro-Financial Assistance proposal is still subject to European Parliament and Council approval.

An employee of the Territorial Work Inspectorate of Gagauzia was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for acts of corruption, including extortion and illegal hiring.

Moldova lost 20 positions in the corruption watchdog's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) survey for 2016, ranking 123rd out of a total 176 countries and worst in Southeastern Europe (SEE). Moldova achieved a score of 30 in the 2016 survey, versus 33 in 2015.

Prepared by the Montenegrin Ministry of Justice, the Bill is open for public discussion until 21 February. Proposed amendments are addressing inter alia the issues and recommendations issued in the MONEYVAL 4 th Evaluation Round report, and FATF Recommendations.

Set up by the Administration for Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing the Working Group consists of representatives from state institutions, repoting entities and private sector. It will be assisted by the Counicl of Europe expert, through the EU/CoE Horizontal Facility Action against Economic Crime in Montenegro, in order to ensure alingment of the new law with recommendations of the MONEYVAL 4 th Round Evaluation Report.

The Agency for Prevention of Corruption has published the fifth Call for applications for Lobbying exam. So far, since adoption of the Law on lobbying in 2014, there have been no applicants for this exam, despite efforts of the Agency to promote this institution.

One year after the launching of the hotline to encourage corruption denunciations in Morocco, the results are mixed. Only 2 % of cases from the 500 daily calls have relevance to corruption, to be compared with the 6000 claims leading to a larger proportionate number of prosecutions through the regular channels.

Concrete measures are awaited, especially in the Judicial, Police and Health sector where corruption is mostly denounced. For Transparency Morocco, the Kingdom is struggling to get out of this stalemate, despite the measures taken, speeches and declarations of intent at the official level.

Thousands of Romanians rallied in Bucharest and cities across the country to protest against government plans to decriminalise some corruption-related offences and pardon some convicted prisoners through emergency decrees. The new cabinet of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu unveiled the draft decrees which have been criticised by the President, the Prosecutor General, the Supreme Court, the Chief Anti-Corruption Prosecutor and the Chief of the Directorate fighting organised crime, as well as civil rights groups and diplomats.

On 18 January, the President blocked a series of controversial legal changes that would have protected corrupt politicians from prosecution. The move came as Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea, whose party won last month’s parliamentary elections, prepares to go on trial for alleged abuse of power. Observers say the proposed legal amendment may have enabled him to escape the charges. The bill sought to decriminalise certain offences and redefine what constitutes an abuse of power, as well as also including a new pardon law to help ease pressure on Romania’s overcrowded prisons.

The workshop was organised by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the Project on “Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs in the Russian Federation from Corrupt Practices at the Municipal Level” - PRECOP II in cooperation with the regional Business Ombudsman Office of the Republic of Karelia. Representatives of federal and various regional Business Ombudsman Offices, as well as representatives of executive and legislative bodies, and business associations of the Republic of Karelia discussed draft Study on typologies of corruption affecting the entrepreneurs in Russia at the regional and municipal levels, prepared by the Council of Europe experts, and provided their comments, including practical cases to be incorporated it the Study.

Russia ranks 119th out of 176 countries with a score of 29 out of 100, Russia’s best result since 2012 when the organisation moved to a 100-point rating system. In 2014, Russia came in 136th place, along with Nigeria and Lebanon.

Decisions rendered by the Anti-Corruption Agency in the past four years have been brought into question with a recent decision of the Administrative Court which annulled the appointment of Tatjana Babic to the position of the Director of the Agency. The annulment is explained by lack of a rationale in the decision of the Agency appointing Tatjana Babic to the position. The case was initiated by another applicant back in 2013. The Agency has said to the press that the decision annulling Ms Babic’s appointment will not have consequences on the decisions rendered by the Agency in the previous period.

According to the European Parliament rapporteurs on the country’s progress towards to EU, Serbia has done little to fight corruption and organised crime, or to safeguard the independence of the judiciary. This has been noted as a major concern in the draft resolution that was discussed by the European Parliament at the beginning of January 2017.

In the case, charges were filed against former top intelligence officer Zoran Verushevski and against Zoran Zaev, leader of the socialdemocratic SDSM party, for running a rogue wiretapping ring and using the materials to blackmail a place for SDSM in the Government.

The SPO has launched investigation into case, dubbed Tank, which involves two former government officials suspected of misuse of power in 2012, when they breached procurement procedures to buy a luxury Mercedes worth over half a million euros for ex-PM Gruevski. According to prosecutors, the technical specifications in the tender referred to a specific manufacturer and trademarks in “order to favour a particular economic operator". Other companies were not given a chance to participate in the tender.

On the 25th of January, EU Commissioner Hahn and MEPs Vajgl, Kukan and Fleckenstein, in a CoE anti-corruption digest 7 January 2017 statement, recognised the 11 December parliamentary elections as an important step in overcoming the political crisis in the country and stressed that the process needed to continue in order to get the country back to the EU integration path. They appealed to all political leaders to find “in full respect of all legal deadlines common grounds for forming a stable, solid and accountable government”. To recall, on the 9 January, President Ivanov asked former PM Gruevski to form a new government. He has until 29 January to submit a programme and proposed cabinet members to Parliament or return the mandate.

Even though the country has improved its ranking due to intensive measures to fight against corruption (e.g. adoption of a National strategy to fight against corruption), further significant improvements have yet to be made. Laws on the protection of whistleblowers and illicit enrichment are most notably still lacking.

According to Corruption Perceptions Index, released by the Transparency International on 25 January, Ukraine scored 29 points out of 100, an improvement of two points compared to last year, but not an indication of a major breakthrough in the fight against corruption. Ukraine is ranked 131 out of 176 countries in the World Ranking of Corruption Perception.

Ukraine's Justice Ministry has proposed to create a working group to draw up the procedure for inspecting e-declarations at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. According to Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko the necessity of creating the working group is linked to the National Agency on Corruption Prevention sabotaging the drawing up of the document.

PACE Resolution 2145(2017) welcomed Ukraine’s ambitious reform programme, stressing that “much progress has been achieved” in changing the legal framework needed for the reforms – but warned that progress on combating corruption was still “too slow”.