Anti-graft watchdog criticizes Turkey for vote that rejected corruption trial for 4 ministers
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An anti-graft organization has criticized a vote in Turkey's parliament that rejected motions to send four former ministers implicated in a vast corruption scandal to trial by the country's highest court.
The ruling Justice and Development Party used its parliamentary majority to sweep away a corruption investigation that had rocked Turkish politics in 2013 and forced the ministers to step down. The four votes, however, were closer than expected Tuesday.
The Berlin-based Transparency International watchdog said Wednesday the votes had taken "the culture of political impunity to a dangerous new level" and raised questions about Turkey's willingness to tackle corruption.
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Turkey, along with China and Angola, are all perceived as increasingly corrupt despite their strong economic growth in recent years, according to Transparency International's 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index.