Waltrop – ESI discusses Corruption in the Council of Europe

19 November 2024
Waltrop
Frank Schwabe with Gerald Knaus. Photo: ESI

Gerald Knaus was invited to present ESI research on Caviar Diplomacy and to discuss corruption by Azerbaijan in the Council of Europe. Organised by the Volkshochschule Waltrop, Gerald reviewed the corruption scandal with Frank Schwabe, member of the German Bundestag and PACE for the SPD. They also talked about the relevance of the Council of Europe and "trust" in modern politics.

Gerald described Azerbaijan’s campaign of “caviar diplomacy” in the Council of Europe, i.e. the use of bribes, lavish gifts and expensive hospitality, such as offering caviar and other luxury items, to sway foreign diplomats, politicians, and influential figures. The purpose of caviar diplomacy was (and is) to soften criticism of Azerbaijan’s human rights record, its undemocratic elections, or to gain favourable votes and statements in international forums. This strategy aimed at undermining the integrity and impartiality of the Council of Europe.

Gerald warned that not all politicians in the West understood the fragility of Western democracies and the efforts of other states like Russia to undermine them with the help of corruption. He urged all citizens to actively protect the democracies in the West to ensure that German and European cities like Berlin remain safe for dissidents from Russia, Belarus, and other autocracies.