Ilham Aliyev calls European Parliament a “hotbed of bribery”
World
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has criticized European institutions, accusing them of applying double standards toward Baku. Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the Organization of Turkic States and religious figures on September 15, he also criticized the European Parliament and referred to the corruption case involving former European Parliament Vice-President Eva Kaili.
According to the official website of the President of Azerbaijan, Aliyev made the remarks on September 15 in Baku during a meeting with participants of international conferences.
“This is their true face. I say this with full responsibility — the European Parliament is a hotbed of bribery,” Aliyev said. According to him, European institutions did not impose sanctions on Armenia during a period when, according to Baku, the Armenian side controlled Azerbaijani territories. However, after Azerbaijan restored control over Karabakh in September 2023, European institutions increased pressure on Baku.
Aliyev also referred to the case involving Eva Kaili, saying that millions of dollars had been taken from the home of the former European Parliament vice-president. Kaili was detained by Belgian authorities in December 2022 as part of a corruption investigation known as Qatargate. The investigation is ongoing. In 2025, the General Court of the European Union issued a ruling in a separate case concerning Kaili’s access to documents; the case was not related to determining her guilt.
The Azerbaijani president also said that European institutions apply double standards to Baku and Yerevan. He linked the deterioration of relations with European institutions to developments surrounding Karabakh and subsequent decisions by European organizations.
Aliyev separately accused Western media of conducting what he described as a negative campaign against Azerbaijan and said that some reports contained “lies, slander and insults.” These characterizations represent the Azerbaijani president’s assessment.
Aliyev also accused European institutions of Islamophobia and called for unity among the Turkic, Caucasian and Islamic worlds.
His remarks came amid the ongoing Qatargate investigation and continuing disagreements between Baku and several European institutions.
“This is their true face. I say this with full responsibility — the European Parliament is a hotbed of bribery,” Aliyev said. According to him, European institutions did not impose sanctions on Armenia during a period when, according to Baku, the Armenian side controlled Azerbaijani territories. However, after Azerbaijan restored control over Karabakh in September 2023, European institutions increased pressure on Baku.
Aliyev also referred to the case involving Eva Kaili, saying that millions of dollars had been taken from the home of the former European Parliament vice-president. Kaili was detained by Belgian authorities in December 2022 as part of a corruption investigation known as Qatargate. The investigation is ongoing. In 2025, the General Court of the European Union issued a ruling in a separate case concerning Kaili’s access to documents; the case was not related to determining her guilt.
The Azerbaijani president also said that European institutions apply double standards to Baku and Yerevan. He linked the deterioration of relations with European institutions to developments surrounding Karabakh and subsequent decisions by European organizations.
Aliyev separately accused Western media of conducting what he described as a negative campaign against Azerbaijan and said that some reports contained “lies, slander and insults.” These characterizations represent the Azerbaijani president’s assessment.
Aliyev also accused European institutions of Islamophobia and called for unity among the Turkic, Caucasian and Islamic worlds.
His remarks came amid the ongoing Qatargate investigation and continuing disagreements between Baku and several European institutions.
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