Analytics, Corruption, Financial Services, Legislation, Lithuania, Shadow economy

The presidential advisor assessed the survey Corruption Map in Lithuania 2014, commissioned by the Special Investigation Service (STT). Its results will be presented on Thursday.

"The President's Office was introduced to the preliminary data of the survey and the results were pleasing," Linge told the Ziniu Radijas radio station on Tuesday.

According to the advisor, currently 48% of residents think that corruption is a serious problem, whereas in 2011 the number stood at 67%.

Corruption was estimated on three levels – among residents, businesspersons and state civil servants.

"Opinion of businesspersons and civil servants has been changing the fastest. It is indeed significant because in these areas, in relations between business and civil servants, conditions for high-level corruption existed," the advisor said.

Mindaugas Linge noted that the European Commission has appreciated Lithuania's progress fighting high-level corruption.

According to the survey, the number of people who said that courts were corrupt reduced to 35% from 64% in 2011. The evaluation is said to be affected by courts' openness, rotation of chairpersons and recordings of hearings.

"Trends are favourable and are a reason for optimism," the presidential advisor concluded.