Former vice-president of PACE, Italian MP Luca Volontė.
L.Volonte noted that there are concerns that some international circles will try to discredit the elections in the republic, even in their run-up. “By doing this, Europe and international structures are losing an excellent opportunity for a positive contribution to the electoral process and reforms in Azerbaijan,” he said, adding that the prejudice of Western countries towards Azerbaijan would undermine the credibility of Europe. Source: report.az
PHOTOS
SOURCES AND THE PRESS
The Azerbaijani opposition condemned the practice of bribing European deputies by the authorities of the country
A major scandal broke out in Italy: the well-known Italian politician Luca Giuseppe Volonte is accused of receiving over two million euros for voting in PACE in favor of the Azerbaijani government on the issue of political prisoners. The criminal case on this fact was opened by the prosecutor’s office of Milan.
“Several years ago, the Austrian prosecutor’s office revealed the facts of corruption in the manufacture of the national currency of Azerbaijan. Recently Panama documents arose and new offshore accounts were opened. Now in Italy, a criminal case has begun on the fact of bribes by the representatives of Azerbaijan. Official Baku is not ashamed to give bribes, “said Jamil Hasanli, chairman of the opposition National Council of Democratic Forces, who has linked serious corruption scandals with the authorities of Azerbaijan.
His words are quoted in the Azerbaijani edition of Contact.Az.
On the pages of the publication it is noted that the bribe to the Italian was not given even for the sake of Azerbaijan’s support in the matter of protecting the territorial integrity (as is known, part of the territory of Azerbaijan was occupied by Armenia for many years and for this aggression the latter was not subjected to the slightest pressure of the world community – Ed.). But for In order to “overwhelm” the resolution of Christoph Strasser, which talked about the fate of 85 political prisoners in Azerbaijan. By the way, the resolution was then overwhelmed with the votes of 128 European deputies.
On the pages of the publication it is noted that the bribe to the Italian was not given even for the sake of Azerbaijan’s support in the matter of protecting the territorial integrity (as is known, part of the territory of Azerbaijan was occupied by Armenia for many years and for this aggression the latter was not subjected to the slightest pressure of the world community – Ed.), But for In order to “overwhelm” the resolution of Christoph Strasser, which talked about the fate of 85 political prisoners in Azerbaijan. By the way, the resolution was then overwhelmed with the votes of 128 European deputies.
According to another opposition leader, Ali Kerimli, the authorities only damage the image of Azerbaijan.
“They “glorified”the country with their offshore companies in Panama, buying dozens of villas in London, “kickbacks” in Austria”. Glorification of the country “has even reached the point where American congressmen began to refuse gifts received from the Azerbaijani authorities,” said Kerimli.
According to him, it is doubly embarrassing that millions of Italian MPs were given only in order to keep innocent people in prisons.
Source: turantoday.com
“Voice of Armenia”: Milan’s prosecutor’s office can create precedent for criminal punishment of clients of Azerbaijan’s oil and gas diplomacy
The “Voice of Armenia” newspaper in its issue of June 30 writes: “The reports that a politician has been caught accepting a bribe from Azerbaijan for advancing the interests of the ruling clan has long been no more sensational. After the publication of high-profile reports of the organization “European Stability Initiative” in 2012, information on corrupt deputies of PACE, the European Parliament, US legislators or officials of another country is already taken for granted. Just like the numerous reports, reports of international organizations and articles in the world press about how exactly the Aliyev family provides themselves with super profits, by passing all laws.
However, the report that appeared the other day, concerning the Italian politician Luke Volonte, stands somewhat apart. According to the influential newspaper Corriere della Sera, the Milan prosecutor’s office accused the former head of the European People’s Party (EPP) faction in PACE of receiving major bribes from the Azerbaijani authorities and laundering proceeds of crime. In particular, 2.39 million euros from the accounts of the telecommunications company Baktelecom in the period from 2012 to 2014 – at a time when the assembly still afforded the luxury of dealing with the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. Law enforcers believe that Volonthe received these funds for organizing the failure of the vote in January 2013 at the PACE session on the report of German deputy Christopher Strasser on 85 political prisoners. The document, we recall, was rejected with the wording “The accusations are not true.” The prosecutor’s office believes that this was facilitated, among other things, by the active work of the Volunteer.
In confirmation of the version there are excerpts from the documents, which state that “during meetings and conferences in Azerbaijan and Strasbourg, he promised to support the political positions of the foreign state for money and carried out short-term and long-term political initiatives in the interests of official Baku”. Members of the Azerbaijani delegation Elkhan Suleymanov and Muslim Mammadov also participated in the bribe transfer, and its members were EPP members. And although lawyers categorically deny the accusations, Luka Volunte, according to media reports, can soon be brought to justice. It is this fact that makes the message unprecedented: for the first time a European politician of high rank can be convicted for participation in the caviar diplomacy of Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile in Baku has not found anything better than to blame the Armenian lobby for scandal, this time “getting”, as it turns out, to the prosecutor’s office of Milan. Thus, a member of the delegation to the PACE, Rovshan Rzayev, said that accusations against the Italian deputy are “a lie and part of a dirty operation against Azerbaijan.” “Such operations of Armenians against Azerbaijan will never cease, as they have no other way out than how to slander,” Rzayev said, and profoundly advised “those who raise this issue to inquire about human rights in Armenia.”
“The policy of the Armenian leadership has failed in all respects. I emphasize once again that this is a campaign conducted by Armenia to smear Azerbaijan. If this statement were somehow connected with Azerbaijan, we would protest. However, this does not apply to Azerbaijan at all “- the deputy showed such a peculiar course of thought. The thought process of Siyavush Novruzov, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, was no less original. “As soon as someone stands in defense of the interests of Azerbaijan, supports our country, people working for the Armenian lobby begin to blackmail them. Similarly, they try to prevent people from supporting the rightful cause of Azerbaijan, “he complained, saying that Volonthe is defending Azerbaijan solely because of his great love for this country”. Is he obliged to take a bribe for this? Is it logical? All these claims are false, “Siyavush said categorically.
As the facts show, Luke fell in love with Azerbaijan and his “just cause” long ago and irrevocably. Apparently, he was one of the key figures of Azerbaijan’s caviar-oil diplomacy during its heyday – 2012-2015. Even after the failure of the Strasse report, Volonta repeatedly spoke with biased statements, repeating word by word the cliche of Azerbaijani propaganda, including anti-Armenian character. So, on the threshold of the parliamentary elections of 2015, the Italian stated the following: “… European institutions and the media ignore the fact that thousands of Azerbaijanis are deprived of their democratic rights in the Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories occupied by Armenia.” Whether this statement was paid separately or the price for it was 2.39 million euros received by Luka in 2013, it is difficult to say, but Azerpropov’s ears stick out so clearly that comments are unnecessary.
By the way, in the same statement Volonte said that, “the prejudice of Western countries towards Azerbaijan will undermine confidence in Europe.” The degree of hypocrisy of a politician receiving millions of euros to lobby for dictatorial interests can only be demonstrated by one fact: after rejecting the report on political prisoners, Aliyev sharply intensified repression by throwing dozens of his critics behind bars, many of whom, incidentally, are still there. According to Luke’s logic, Armenia is also to blame for this, “depriving thousands of Azerbaijanis of democratic rights.”
However, the accusation against Volonte is not serious. The four-year-old epic with the exposures of European politicians who willingly pecked at dirty Baku bait could not long remain at the level of public censure and high-profile scandals that did not receive legal continuation. The Milan prosecutor’s office seems ready to initiate criminal investigations into numerous facts contained in reports of public organizations and the media concerning Azerbaijan, and thus create a precedent for the prosecution of Aliyev’s clients. Coupled with the “Panamanian” case, the story of Luka threatens quite serious troubles for the Baku ruling clan, and pathetic attempts to blame the powerful Armenian lobby in everything here is unlikely to help. “The just cause” of Aliyev and his minions is so rotten that for a long time the aromas and caviar, and the inflated flow of petrodollars cover the smell.
Meanwhile, create a commission of inquiry.
The French Union of Democrats and Independent (UDI) intends to create a commission to investigate the bilateral relations between France and Azerbaijan. The reason is an intricate diplomatic situation, Panorama.am reports with reference to Le Figaro.
According to the French publication, relations between the two countries can be overshadowed after UDI initiates the creation of an investigative commission in the National Assembly on the “evaluation of political, economic and diplomatic relations between France and Azerbaijan.” The project will be examined by the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly Elisabeth Guigou. It is noted that French diplomats will testify under oath.
In response, Azerbaijan mobilized its numerous political supporters from the parliamentary “Friendship Group”. The publication reminds that in September 2015 in the investigative TV program Cash investigation of the French television channel France 2, a close and non-transparent connection was revealed between some French deputies and the Azerbaijani authorities. It is emphasized that six French deputies – fans of motorsport – were invited to Baku to race the Grand Prix of Europe Formula-1, where they met with President Aliyev. Among them was the deputy Jean-Francois Mancel, who was also convicted of violations. Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Paris Elchin Amirbekov threatened with a crisis in diplomatic relations, sending letters to all UDI deputies warning about the diplomatic and economic consequences of the commission’s creation”.
Source: panorama.am