Lawyers of Luke Volonte funded from Baku - ex-ambassador of Azerbaijan to CE

Baku / 05.02.20 / Turan: The Council of Europe, which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, is now facing serious problems. In particular, corruption scandals and, in particular, “caviar diplomacy” caused serious damage to the organization’s image.

This opinion expressed in an interview with the Voice of America, Azerbaijani service, the former head of Azerbaijan’s representation in the Council of Europe, Ambassador Arif Mammadov, who is now in political emigration to Europe.

 “I can’t say that these problems have been fixed. In a number of issues, there are still no major changes for the better. True, some corrupt officials were excluded from national delegations. However, those involved in corruption still remain in the secretariat and in a number of delegations,” Mammadov said.

He testified to the Independent Investigative Group created in PACE to investigate corruption in the assembly. Mammadov considers it necessary to create a mechanism for monitoring the composition of delegations. They should include both representatives of the authorities and the opposition. However, only representatives of the government are included in the Azerbaijani delegation in view of the absence of real opposition, he said.

When asked what mechanisms are developed in PACE to prevent future corruption, Mammadov noted that the measures taken are not sufficient. A number of deputies were banned from entering the Council of Europe building. However, some are still represented in their parliaments. Some generally escaped the investigation. The most famous defendant in the scandal was the Italian deputy Luca Volonte. It is proved that the government of Azerbaijan transferred money to its accounts. “I attended the trial of his case in an Italian court. The advocates protecting him are still financed by the Azerbaijani side. In the hall, representatives of the Italian police told me that the best lawyers of the country protect Volonte. We know that they are financed from Azerbaijan. At the same time, there are no restrictions on Volonte. He has not  been arrested; there are no restrictions on him. Only once every 3-5 months he is summoned to court, asked some questions. This all ends. Alas, Europe is far removed from its values ​​and this is true,” Mammadov said.

In December 2016, the European Stability Initiative (ESI), a non-governmental organization, published an investigation on Caviar Diplomacy-2 on the practice of bribing PACE deputies by Azerbaijani politicians to make decisions beneficial to official Baku. According to this report, Luca Volonte, head of the European People’s Party faction in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, named the names of many European politicians who unselfishly lobbied for the interests of the Azerbaijani authorities. During interrogations, he confirmed that money came from his accounts in Azerbaijan, which, according to ESI, went to bribe deputies from Italy and other European countries. These deputies voted against PACE resolutions and reports condemning human rights violations in Azerbaijan, ESI said. Volonte continues to be under investigation.

When asked to comment on the prevailing opinion among politicians and experts that the Council of Europe has exhausted its mission. That is why the leading EU states did not begin to finance the organization when Russia stopped paying membership dues, but was eventually returned to PACE. To this, Mammadov replied “The Council of Europe still has no mechanisms of influence. That is, Russia is not a member of the EU, like Azerbaijan. The only mechanism of some kind of influence on these countries is PACE. Therefore, the most democratic states are interested in the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, and other non-democratic or authoritarian states remaining in the organization. This makes it possible to influence them and the processes in these countries. Pressure practically does not work, but at least monitoring is carried out. In addition, it is important that Azerbaijani citizens had the opportunity to apply to the European Court and receive compensation. Therefore, it is impossible to answer unequivocally this question. ”

Touching upon the topic of persecution of critics by the authorities in political emigration, Mammadov said that he abstains from leaving the EU. Unsafe trips to Turkey, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and more recently - to Georgia. Recently, even in Poland, an Azerbaijani activist who was granted asylum in Norway was detained. According to him, the Azerbaijani authorities use Interpol to prosecute their critics abroad.

“Of course, we must observe safety measures, but the struggle continues and we do not intend to abandon it,” Mammadov said.

Regarding the protests of political emigrants in Europe, Mammadov regretted that they did not affect European public opinion.

“I appreciate the efforts of our compatriots who spend time and energy on holding rallies and actions. These events do not attract the attention of the European public, structures. This is more a message for an audience in Azerbaijan, that in Europe emigrants fight for the rights of those who fight for justice in Azerbaijan ,” said. Mammadov.  –1606D-