Bonner Querschnitte 47/2016 Ausgabe 442 (eng)

(Bonn, 28.09.2016) The President of the International Council of the International Society for Human Rights, Thomas Schirrmacher, has congratulated the Georgian government for successfully reigning in corruption during a visit to the Georgian Section of the ISHR/IGFM (International Society for Human Rights/ Internationale Gesellschaft für Menschenrechte).

Schirrmacher, the author of a book against corruption, has congratulated the Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, and the European Minister of Georgia, David Bakradze, on their successful program against corruption at all levels, in everyday life all the way up into the higher echelons of politics and the business world. In 2004, Georgia held the atrocious position of 131 on the corruption index put out by Transparency International. In 2014 it held the 50^th position, the best value of a post-Soviet state with the exception of the Baltic region.

At the same time, everyday corruption has almost completely disappeared. This shows that the population also desires to leave the past behind. Georgia, which in view of Russia has not even been admitted as an EU entry candidate, is thus not only a role model for EU entry candidates but has rather surpassed seven EU member states, such as Italy and Romania, on the corruption index.

Combating corruption is a necessary precondition for combating human rights infringements. Otherwise, those infringing upon human rights would only all too easily pay their way out if investigations were to be undertaken against them.

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·         Photo 1: Hahn and Schirrmacher in conversation with the European Minister, David Bakradze

·         Photo 2: The delegation with the European Minister

·         Photo 3: With the Prime Minister