Whistleblower Documents Corruption in Armenia
The Government Accountability Project (GAP), a U.S. based organization which aims “to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability through advancing occupational free speech and ethical conduct, defending whistleblowers, and empowering citizen activists” has just featured news of Bruce Tasker’s allegations against the World Bank in Yerevan on its front page.
Bruce Tasker, a specialist on the commission established by the Parliament of Armenia to study the country’s foreign assistance, has documented widespread corruption and the embezzlement of public funds associated with the World Bank’s Municipal Development Program and the Government’s Integrated Finance Rehabilitation Plan, supported by the Bank and monitored by the IMF. Among other things, Tasker has reported the diversion of tens of millions of dollars from the Yerevan water company by the International Operator, who managed the World Bank-financed project. Although the Armenian Parliament and the World Bank received Tasker’s allegations in 2004, together with compelling evidence, three years later, neither the government nor the Bank have adequately addressed the problem.
Incidentally, I’m still interested in why most publications, with just one exception, haven’t bothered to cover the allegations especially when Tasker has put so much information at their disposal. I’m also interested in why the Center for Regional Development / Transparency International Armenia hasn’t issued a public statement on the matter either.
Tasker’s claims and allegations of significant corruption in World Bank activities in Armenia can be read on his blog here.
