All officials, at the head of the President, are the servants of people. We should serve decently and continue our efforts in formation of civil society. I demand from each official to be conscience with their duties, to solve problems disturbing citizens, to answer in time all applications and appeals of citizens, to serve decently to the state and people.
Struggle against corruption and bribery is to be conducted more seriously. I am not contented with the actions on revelation of bribe-taker officials. If officials in places do not create conditions for conduct of economic reforms, then none of our plans, programs will realized in life. The passed decisions should be executed in places and people should control the correct execution of decisions.

Fund of Struggle against Corruption carries out the project “Anti-corruption enlightenment and legal aid” with the financial support of Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of Azerbaijani Republic.
The main goal of the project is joint discussion together with local state bodies and public representatives the execution of accepted “National Strategy on Increasing Transparency and Combating Corruption” and the results of regional anti-corruption surveys and organizing public control over National Strategy’s execution.

Interview of Day.az with executive director of Fond of Struggle against Corruption, Vasif Movsumov on state of struggle against corruption in Azerbaijan and results of their activity at the end of the year.

- Mr. Vasif, you periodically conduct investigations. How is the level of corruption estimated in Azerbaijan?
- According to the results of the investigations, about 50-60% inhabitants in Azerbaijan give bribes for solving their problems. In such way, unfortunately for the last 2 years the level of corruption in the country is not reduced. On the whole, the main part of the inhabitants in the country still gives bribes for solving their problems and getting rid of official circumlocution. Both citizen and official are guilty. The first solves his problem by means of bribes, the second makes him do this and at the same time earns money. Both sides win. The losing side becomes government, as its foundation breaks down. On the other hand, in international practice periodically sociological surveys are held for revealing attitude of inhabitants to the corruption problem and estimating its level. Similar sociological surveys are not held in Azerbaijan. But there exists demand to its holding. Public opinion in the country is very important.

Fond of Struggle Against Corruption implements “Anticorruption Public Barrister Service” with the support of Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of Azerbaijani Republic. The project considers render juridical assistance to the citizens faced with corruption, to give advice, to direct their application and complaints to the state bodies. Besides, within the frames of the project "National strategy of struggle against corruption and increase of transparency" informing and enlightenment work is being implemented among people.
The first measure was held in Khachmaz. 30 people appealed to Public Barrister Service with application and complaints connected with corruption. The applicants were the representatives of Khachmaz, Davachi and Guba regions.

"Anticorruption education and center of virtual consultations" project of the Fund of Struggle against Corruption supported by the Commission of the Azerbaijan Republic on struggle against corruption is realized in regions. The next regional arrengement was held in Gazakh city. Representatives of Gazakh, Tovuz and Agstafa regions’ executive authority, some local state structures and mass-media partook at the round table. The project aims at informing the public of adopted "National strategy of struggle against corruption and increase of transparency" along with discussion of objectives of "National Strategy” put before the public and local state structures and organization of public control over its realization. Speaker Vasif Movsumov, executive director of the Fund of Struggle against Corruption noted that adoption of "National Strategy” takes an important place in struggle against corruption and this struggle will be rational in cooperation of the public with state structures which is of great importance.
Speaking representatives of executive authority, local NGOs and the public noted that adoption of “National strategy” and its realization will give a stimulus to struggle against corruption and the events of legal enlightenment are important for productivity of struggle.

“ for implementing political interests of Western countries, on the eve of the elections”
Chief executive of Fond of Struggle Against Corruption, Vasif Movsumov is against accepting such rates as ideal.

“Rates, promulgated on the eve of the presidential elections in Azerbaijan by the international organizations and some Western countries are means of pressure for implementing their political interests”. Chief executive of “Fond of Struggle Against Corruption”, Vasif Movsumov said this to ANS PRESS, showing his attitude to rates connected with the level of corruption in Azerbaijan. He stated that it is impossible to idealize the rates of corruption in different countries of the world: “The point is that presidential elections soon will be held in Azerbaijan. Usually, many such rates appear on the eve of such important events. According to the results of surveys, from people’s appeals, we know that corruption exists in Azerbaijan. But struggle is conducted against it. Some measures have been implemented in the Azerbaijani regions during last 4 years. Main theme in the measures held by our Fond was attracting population to struggle against corruption, making collaboration between public and officials. In view of citizens’ participation in such arrangements, positive changes happened for last 4 years”.

"Anticorruption education and center of virtual consultations" project of the Fund of Struggle against Corruption supported by the Commission of the Azerbaijan Republic on struggle against corruption is realized within a year in 12 regions. The next in turn round table was held in Lenkoran city.
The project aims at informing the public of adopted "National strategy of struggle against corruption and increase of transparency" along with discussion of objectives of "National Strategy” put before the public and local state structures and organization of public control over its realization.
Representatives of the region’s executive authority, HGOs, Public Prosecutor’s Office, the police administration, judicial authority, some local state structures, mass-media and the public (80 people) partook at this event. Speaker Vasif Movsumov, executive director of the Fund of Struggle against Corruption noted that adoption of "National Strategy” takes an important place in struggle against corruption and this struggle will be rational in cooperation of the public with state structures which is of great importance.
Speaking representatives of Lenkoran’s executive authority, local NGOs and the public noted that adoption of “National strategy” and its realization will give a stimulus to struggle against corruption and the events of legal enlightenment are important for productivity of struggle.

Creation of perfect legislation base for conducting struggle at a legal level is a very important issue. The Law of Azerbaijani Republic «On struggle against corruption» should play a role of effective and proper legal base for events which should be carried out by bodies on struggle against corruption.
During conducting the analysis of Law of Azerbaijani Republic “On struggle against corruption” it became known that the mistakes were made in connection with using the legal norms emphatically recommended by important anticorruption norms and in particular international legal base and as a result, voids appeared in Law. Filling these voids, creation of effective conditions for struggle against corruption and achievement of complete compliance of this Law to the international legal norms, including UNO Convention «Struggle against Corruption», Conventions of Council of Europe “On criminal responsibility in connection with corruption” and «On civil-legal responsibility in connection with corruption» and other international documents to the legislation of Azerbaijani Republic are problems of current importance.

Corruption, swallowing up the world’s states, is one of the obstacles in the development of not only separate countries, but also the worldwide economy on the whole. The corruption problem has started to be considered since early 1980s as one of the main concerns of international policy. Azerbaijan is not the only country exposed to this disaster. It is impossible to extirpate corruption as well as to vanquish self-interest and avidity of a human being.
Nevertheless, as the practice of "successful" countries shows, it is possible to substantially "improve" the situation by carrying out complex struggle against corruption. In fact, this problem has socio-cultural, economic and political character. Therefore, it is necessary to fulfill the followings terms for conducting successful struggle against corruption and diminishing the corruption level in the country.
First term - creation of real competition political system when two parties, each with its principle program, struggle for electorate and control each other. But in the situation when there is not such a competitive political activity, it is easy to conceal corruption facts.
Second term - competitive economic system. Monopolies always use their positions to derive huge profits stopping at nothing. And only a competitive system forces business to show the society by what methods and price formation it can gain advantages in the market.
Third term - freedom of mass media. They receive information from political and economic competitors and bring it to the society’s notice. The first two terms will not yield a due effect without free mass media, because citizens will not know what actually happens.

"Anticorruption education and center of virtual consultations" project of the Fund of Struggle against Corruption supported by the Commission of the Azerbaijan Republic on struggle against corruption is realized within a year in 12 regions. The next in turn round table was held in Mingachevir city.
The project aims to inform the public on the adopted "National strategy of struggle against corruption and increase of transparency" along with discussion of objectives of "National Strategy” put before the public and local state structures and organization of public control over its realization. Representatives of the region’s executive authority, Public Prosecutor Office, region’s department of Ministry of National Security, the police administration, judicial authority, some local state structures, mass-media and the public partook at this event. Speaker Vasif Movsumov, executive director of the Fund of Struggle against Corruption noted that adoption of "National Strategy” takes an important place in struggle against corruption and this struggle will be rational in cooperation of the public with state structures which is of great importance.

"It is necessary to carry out reforms in a system of administration, to form a competition economic sphere, conduct struggle against monopolism. A country should use advantages of economic development and conduct struggle against corruption, we can not lose such chance. After all, there are completely stably developing countries, where corruption level is developed". - Vasif Movsumov, the executive director of Fund of struggle against corruption stressed. In his opinion, it is necessary to conduct whole monitorings for reception of more detailed information about real corruption level in the country. "In any case during last year, positive tendencies of activity of the public are observed in struggle against corruption". By his estimations, during seminars, conducted in the regions of country, population complaints about corruption facts in local autonomous bodies (municipalities) and arbitrariness of officials at places. "In particular, population complains of corruption in local agencies of Ministry of labor and social defense, namely upon issuing of certifications about degree of disability". According to executive director, if measures, pointed out in special programs, will be right realized, possibility of effective struggle against this negative phenomenon will appear. As a whole, as V.Movsumov added, the attempts to reduce corruption level have been made in Azerbaijan from 2004 within the frames of a special program, in particular, anticorruption legislation was formed, state structures, carrying out state policy in this sphere, are set up.

"Anticorruption education and center of virtual consultations" project of the Fund of Struggle against Corruption supported by the Commission of the Azerbaijan Republic on struggle against corruption will be realized within a year in 12 regions.
The project aims to inform the public on the adopted "National strategy of struggle against corruption and increase of transparency" along with discussion of objectives of "National Strategy” put before the public and local state structures and organization of public control over its realization. The next in turn round table was held on April 12 within the frames of the project in Masalli region. Representatives of the region’s executive authority, Public Prosecutor Office, the police administration, judicial authority, some local state structures, mass-media and the public partook at this event. Speaker Vasif Movsumov, executive director of the Fund of Struggle against Corruption noted that adoption of "National Strategy” takes an important place in struggle against corruption and this struggle will be rational in cooperation of the public with state structures which is of great importance.

Council of Europe supported by Commission of the Azerbaijan Republic on struggle against corruption and US International agency of development held information seminars in Sheki (March 17) and Ganja (March 18) within the frames of «Project of support of Azerbaijan’s Strategy on struggle against corruption» (AZPAC).
A new anticorruption strategy and its action plan were introduced at the seminars. The purpose was to inform the public and state structures of the country’s different regions about the obligations and objectives assumed by Azerbaijani government over struggle against corruption.
Representatives of state structures, international organizations, civil society and mass media attended the events. Execution of Anticorruption strategy and its action plan were broadly discussed.
Quentin Reed, Council of Europe long-term advisor noted opening the event that the seminars are aimed at informing the public about «Project of support of Azerbaijan’s Strategy on struggle against corruption» and called listeners on for active debates.

"Anticorruption education and center of virtual consultations" project of the Fund of Struggle against Corruption supported by the Commission of the Azerbaijan Republic on struggle against corruption will be realized within a year in 12 regions.
The project aims to inform the public on the adopted "National strategy of struggle against corruption and increase of transparency" along with discussion of objectives of "National Strategy” put before the public and local state structures and organization of public control over its realization.
The next in turn round table was held within the frames of the project in Xachmaz region. Representatives of the region’s executive authority, Public Prosecutor Office, the police administration, some local state structures, mass-media and the public partook at this event. Speaker Vasif Movsumov, executive director of the Fund of Struggle against Corruption noted that adoption of "National Strategy” takes an important place in struggle against corruption and this struggle will be rational in cooperation of the public with state structures which is of great importance.