Despite dismal human rights record, Belarus slips just two spots in global rule of law ranking

October 27, BPN. Belarus has slipped two spots in the Rule of Law Index 2022 compiled by the U.S.-based NGO World Justice Project.

It ranked 99th out of 140, countries scoring 0.46 points on a scale of 0 to 1, where 1 signifies the strongest adherence to the rule of law.

Among the neighboring countries, Lithuania ranked the highest (18^th) with 0.76 points. Latvia ranked 24th with 0.72 points, Poland 36th with 0.64 points, Ukraine -76th with 0.50 points, and Russia 106th with 0.45 points. Only Ukraine’s and Russia’s rankings dropped in 2022, by two and six positions respectively.

Denmark tops the ranking with 0.9 points, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

The Index is calculated using a large number of questions drawn from two original data sources such as a general population poll (GPP) and qualified respondents’ questionnaires (QRQs). The GPP surveys provide firsthand information on the experiences and the perceptions of ordinary people. The World Justice Project conducted its last GPP survey in Belarus in 2017.

Therefore, the country’s ranking appears to be primarily based on assessments from in-country practitioners and academics with expertise in civil and commercial law; constitutional law, civil liberties, and criminal law; labor law; and public health.