Corruption in Eastern Europe?

Posted by Amanda Kendle Jul 31, 2006

When I've traveled and lived in countries that were behind the Iron Curtain, friends have often asked me if the rumors they hear about corruption and bribery are true.

This week, the World Bank reported that they consider corruption is still rife in eastern European countries, after surveying 20,000 companies.

From friends who live in these countries, I've heard many a story of bribery: the policeman who demands a bribe or will otherwise take a driving licence away on the spot; the housing authority that finds you a better state flat if you grease their palms. And some of these cases are recent, definitely post-Iron Curtain.

As a traveler, will you be affected? Friends of mine found themselves constantly pulled over by police for no apparent reason, and being unable to speak the language, found they had to pay a fine - nobody's sure if it was justified or not. But nobody I've heard of was ever endangered in such a situation. The likelihood of anything like this happening to you is very slim: but if it does, most likely it'll do little damage other than providing a good story to tell when you get home.