Head of the delegation in PACE Samad Seyidov should resign

On May 16, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, MP Samad Seyidov, held a press conference in Baku, accusing the European structures of lying, double standards and anti-Azerbaijani policy. So he explained the sanctions imposed in the PACE against the head of the Azerbaijani delegation, accused along with European deputies of bribery and organized corruption.

In an interview with YouTube channel Sevinj Osmangyzy, former Ambassador Arif Mammadov and former PACE member Gultekin Hajibeyli gave their comments. Gultekin Hajibayli explained that after a two-month investigation the PACE submitted a report, discussed in the procedural committee and approved by the Committee of Ministers with a large margin in the form of recommendations. Mentioned in the report on corruption in the PACE, Samad Seyidov and European politicians have been punished. Moreover, it is stated that national governments must punish these deputies before the adoption of PACE sanctions. Other persons were mentioned in the report, but they are former PACE deputies and therefore it is impossible to punish them within the framework of the Council of Europe. "This is the first such difficult decision of PACE in my memory, shameful for Azerbaijan," added Hajibayli.

A.Mammadov believes that Seyidov, as the head of the Azerbaijani delegation, became the culprit of presenting the "red card" to our country. Italian police officers met with A.Mammadov and asked him questions, which indicates that in Europe they are investigating the crimes that resulted from the PACE decision. A corrupt network is being explored from Europe to Russia and Azerbaijan, including the fact of bribing Rosoboronexport to Azerbaijani officials. Perhaps Interpol is involved in the investigation and it is possible that new criminal facts will come up.

Mammadov said that Seyidov, being an experienced man, initially did not participate in corruption schemes, and spoke against them, understanding the dangerous consequences. A number of Azerbaijani diplomats, supporting open lobbying, also spoke out against secret deals. Continuing Mammadov's thought, Hajibeyli pointed out that PACE does not accuse Seyidov of personal transfer of sums of money and is aware of the constant tensions between Seyidov and the presidential administration, which did not trust Seyidov. An audit was conducted in the university of foreign languages, led by Seyidov, corrupt facts were revealed. Hajibeyli believes that deputy Elkhan Suleymanov and Belgian businessman Muslim Mammadov were the direct participants in bribery, who is known to few people in Azerbaijan, but he became a member of Milli Majlis. Mammadov helped Suleymanov to establish contacts in Europe. Suleymanov and Mammadov were expelled from PACE, Baku withdrew them and their names were not mentioned in the PACE decision. In Azerbaijan, they realized that the removal of Suleymanov and Mammadov from PACE is necessary, since these people can be arrested in Europe. Samad Seyidov personally could not participate in corrupt operations, did not transfer money, and was not involved in sexual adventures in Baku, but he knew about what was happening. Seyidov actively worked with the accused and punished Pedro Argamunt and other European MPs, accused of corruption. Seyidov cannot be accused of criminal operations, but, of course, is morally responsible.

In general, the PACE decision is fair," Hajibayli said. Seyidov personally is not accused of corruption, but is responsible for what happened. She called Seyidov an unprincipled, weak person who initially protested, and then, under the pressure of Baku, reconciled with the reality that was imposed by the leadership of Azerbaijan.

With the opinion of Hajibeyli, A. Mammadov agrees. "The decision taken in PACE is the beginning of a long process. Azerbaijan should understand that the event has gone beyond the borders of the country and even beyond the PACE and is being investigated throughout Europe. Law enforcement authorities in Europe launched an investigation that is not controlled by the PACE. Those who gave money to Muslim Mammadov and Elkhan Suleymanov for transferring bribes to Europeans will be identified. I know these names, they occupy very high positions in Baku, but so far the police have not stated this, I must remain silent. Many authorities in Azerbaijan can get into the sanctions of Europe, Mammadov and Suleymanov know for certain what politicians have been given bribes in envelopes during their visits to Baku and bank transfers. Most of the bribes are given in envelopes. Mammadov and Suleymanov will be invited to the PACE to testify, if they are clean, then voluntarily appear before the investigation. But I do not see Suleymanov or Mammadov on the screens of Azerbaijani TV channels, they do not participate in the meetings, probably they were removed from politics, knowing that these people are well informed and can give Europe new corruption information, Mammadov suggested.

Hajibeyli ironically criticized Seyidov's charges at his press conference in Baku, when Seyidov, instead of acknowledging his mistakes, spoke about the pro-Armenian sympathies of the Council of Europe. She is sorry for Seyidov, who knows about the disgraceful rating of Azerbaijan, equated in the world to North Korea and Afghanistan, whereas in Armenia there was a democratic revolution supported by the whole world. She drew attention to Seyidov's words in Baku, indicating a possible exclusion from PACE following Suleymanov and Mammadov. What happened in the PACE struck a blow to Azerbaijan's position in the Karabakh issue, even the removal of corrupt officials from the PACE will not save our country from the disaster, Hajibeyli is sure.

Samad Seyidov should resign, "political scientist Elkhan Shainoglu called. At a press conference in Baku Seyidov said about the importance of continuing Azerbaijan's participation in the work of the PACE, although in his Strasbourg speech he stated that he personally does not need PACE. Seyidov may not need PACE, but Azerbaijan needs this European organization, we cannot leave Armenia unrequited there.

Seyidov corrected his speech in Strasbourg in Baku, apparently, he was impressed by the Azerbaijani authorities, explaining that Seyidov is not Azerbaijan. And now Seyidov needs to do the right thing and resign from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Azerbaijan is waging a war with Armenia in PACE, which fell under the sanctions of the Seyidov is hurting us now. It would have been better if he had resigned, speaking to reporters in Baku on May 16," the political scientist said.

"Shame and disgrace, humiliation for the whole country. It is possible to clean up only after removing Seyidov from PACE by unilateral decision of Baku. And then apologize for him and throw off all responsibility to Seyidov, officially declaring that everything done is exclusively initiative of the head of the Azerbaijani delegation. He will accept and remain silent, so there is still something to lose.

Then they will understand us and pretend that they have believed and forgotten. If Seyidov remains in PACE and accuses everyone there, except for himself, the puddle in which we sat down will become deeper and dirtier," the Azerbaijani blogger wrote in the "Caucasian Knot".

"The PACE Committee on Procedures made a serious signal against corruption and imposed sanctions against such deputies as Agramunt, Khuchla, Preda and Seyidov." This was written in his Twitter account by the head of the deputy group of the Social Democrats and Greens in PACE German deputy Frank Schwab. At a special meeting of the Committee in Paris, sanctions against these individuals were taken for a period of 2 to 10 years.

In late April in PACE, a special report on the fight against corruption among deputies was widely discussed. In this document it was noted that the Azerbaijani authorities spend millions of euros on bribery of European politicians, in order to minimize criticism for violations of human rights and democracy in Azerbaijan.

The most vivid example of this was the payment of 3 million euros to the Italian deputy Luke Volunte for the failure of the report of the German deputy Strasser on political prisoners in Azerbaijan. Another lobbyist of the Azerbaijani authorities was the former head of the PACE, Pedro Agramunt, who was dismissed from his position with a disgrace.

The report also mentioned the names of a number of European deputies who received bribes from the Azerbaijani authorities. At the same time, the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE was accused of recruiting European deputies and illegally handing over money and gifts to them. Official Baku did not give a clear answer to all these accusations, saying about another campaign of "pro-Armenian forces" against Azerbaijan.