- As the EU talks of ‘freedom’ from Russian gas for central and eastern Europe and the Balkans, brought by increased imports from Azerbaijan, sceptics warn it comes at a cost: increased reliance on a country engaged in a conflict and with a recent history of bribery and corruption in Europe.
- In 2017, the European Commission approved a deal between Malta and Azerbaijan that would see Maltese taxpayers lose tens of millions of euros every year.
- Few have such a long rap sheet, including the recent billion-dollar bribery and illegal lobbying of EU politicians and a corruption scandal in a member state linked to the murder of a journalist.
EU overlooks Azeri energy graft risk
