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Azerbaijan Investigation finds some election observers softened criticism for cash, caviar and carpets

EUROPEAN election observers conducted activity of a “corrupt nature” in Azerbaijan, a Council of Europe investigation has concluded.

Its 10-month investigation into the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Pace) found that some of its members had voted to soften criticism of Azerbaijan’s government in exchange for cash, caviar, carpets, and stays in luxury hotels in Baku.

The report stated that Azerbaijan had pressed Pace members to minimise criticism of alleged rights abuses and ballot-rigging in elections.

Pace consists of delegates from the national parliaments of all 47 of the CoE member states and is tasked with promoting human rights and the rule of law. However, it has been criticised for its weak response to allegations of corruption in Azerbaijan.

In a 2017 resolution Pace cited cases of torture and violations of law including the right to a fair trial and the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly. It called for the government to “begin real and meaningful reforms” to allow journalists to operate freely in the country.

However, the head of Baku’s delegation to Pace, Samad Seyidov, claimed that the resolutions were designed to create a split between Azerbaijan and the CoE.

The government of oil-rich Azerbaijan has previously been accused of using so-called “caviar diplomacy” in order to silence criticism. The term was first used in 2012 after an investigation by the European Stability Initiative discovered about 10-12 “friends of Azerbaijan” in Pace received a gift of at least a pound of black caviar four times a year.

A Pace report into the 2010 Azerbaijani parliamentary elections found that it met international standards despite no opposition parties’ representatives being elected.

The latest investigations were started last year after allegations surfaced that Pace members had played down claims of ballot-box stuffing and rights abuses.

Retired judges from Britain, France, and Sweden found substantial grounds that one Italian member and two Azerbaijani delegates had been involved in “activities of a corruptive nature.”

Five former Pace members carried out lobbying activities on behalf of Azerbaijan after ending their terms of office, while 10 breached Pace code of conduct while observing elections, their report found.

But Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev dismissed allegations of corruption, ballot-rigging and human rights abuses. He was recently re-elected with main opposition parties boycotting the election.

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