The Independent Investigation Body established the facts concerning two principal forms of use of financial means to influence the Parliamentary Assembly’s work concerning Azerbaijan. The first concerned the remunerated lobbying activities performed by a number of former Assembly members. The second concerned the actual use of money and other corruptive activities as a means of influencing various activities which were directly or indirectly seen as being in favour of Azerbaijan.
With regard to the performance of lobbying activities in the Assembly, the Independent Investigation Body found that a number of former Assembly members who had performed such activities had acted contrary to the Code of Conduct for members of the Assembly. As to the corruptive activities in favour of Azerbaijan, the Independent Investigation Body established that there was a strong suspicion that certain current and former Assembly members had engaged in activity of a corruptive nature.
Azerbaijan is one of the 47 member States of the Council of Europe and thus represented in the Committee of Ministers. It is mentioned 942 times in the report on corruption.
Mr Omtzigt,
To ask the Committee of Ministers,
Does the Committee of Ministers agree that the report raises serious questions on the behaviour of Azerbaijan in corrupting Parliamentary Assembly members and what actions will the Committee of Ministers take?
Has the Committee of Ministers raised the issue of the role of Azerbaijan in the corruption favouring Azerbaijan in the Committee?