The percentage of income that businesses pay informally to “settle things” last year compared to 2022 increased by +0.6 percentage points to 10%. This is one of the highest figures since 2009, when it was 10.4%, Diena writes with reference to the Shadow Economy Index in the Baltic States. The lowest value was achieved in 2016 (6.5%), and since then the level of bribery grew up According to the representative of the Bureau for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption (KNAB), Sandijs Vectevs, the increase mentioned in the study may indicate that existing risk reduction measures, especially in the field of procurement, may not be effective enough. Unfortunately, it is not clear from the study whether the number of bribes is actually increasing or whether this is just a public perception effect. There are no exact data. At the same time, judging by the annual reports of KNAB, the number of criminal cases initiated on facts of bribery (receiving, giving bribes) has increased in recent years – about 40% last year and the year before (as a percentage of all criminal cases initiated), 20 % in 2021, about 30% in 2020. In total, last year the department initiated 36 criminal cases. KNAB observations show that the amount of bribes largely depends on the transaction in which the potential bribe giver or bribe taker is interested. For example, for those involved in procurement, these amounts will undoubtedly be higher. It is important to emphasize that procurement remains an area subject to high risks of corruption. KNAB continues to see in practice that civil servants, who have the right to make decisions, are ready to engage in illegal activities for not too large bribes.
