A discussion panel was held in the European Parliament on February 6 on the topic of human rights and relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union.
The event was held on the same date as Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Brussels to meet with European Union officials.
Meydan TV Director Emin Milli also participated in the discussion. Milli noted that Azerbaijani authorities and media outlets that cooperate with them have been waging a propaganda war against those in the country who dare to speak out against injustice and corruption – many of them are accused of “working for the Armenians”.
“The propaganda forces of the Aliyev regime claim that [today’s] event has been organized by ‘pro-Armenian’ forces. As if everyone here is working for the Armenians. Today, Ilham Aliyev himself is in Brussels and meeting with European Union officials.
It’s rather strange that Ilham Aliyev is able to meet with people with a number of different views – several times a year he meets with Sarksyan; the Heydar Aliyev Fund finances churches in France that have recognized the Armenian genocide; SOCAR delivers gas free of charge to churches in Georgia, including Armenian churches – and we can’t even meet with anyone to get our voice out there and heard”.
Milli also touched on corruption and the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, and how caviar diplomacy – the practice of inviting foreign diplomats and lavishing them with expensive gifts as an unspoken understanding of mutual cooperation – had coopted politicians in several European parliaments.
