Infamous with Qatargate, Eva Kaili lobbied for interests of Armenia against Azerbaijan

The former president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, "famous" in the Qatargate case, is also accused of lobbying the interests of Armenia against Azerbaijan, Report informs via EU Today.

Kaili has warm relations with the EU-Armenia Friendship Group, which is closely linked to the largest Armenian lobbying organization in Europe, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD).

The Brussels-based EAFJD is headed by its president, Kaspar Karampetian, a diamond dealer who has been accused in the press of dealing in so-called "blood diamonds" and who holds both Armenian and Greek citizenship.

"As well as meetings in the European Parliament, EAFJD has lobbied High-Representative Josep Borrell on behalf of Armenian interests and has been involved in organizing trips for parliamentarians to Armenian-occupied areas of Karabakh, Azerbaijani territory occupied by Armenia since 1988, and referred to by Armenians as 'Artsakh.' Internationally, the area is recognized by most democratic governments as belonging to Azerbaijan," reads the article.

In August 2019 German MEP Martin Sonneborn visited Nagorno-Karabakh with his Armenian born wife on the initiative of EAFJD, and accompanied by Kaspar Karampetian.

The German Foreign Ministry condemned Sonneborn's visit.

Sonneborn is one of those MEPs who, as EU Today has reported, appear somewhat supportive of Russia. In November 2022, he was one of 58 who voted against a resolution declaring Russia to be a state "sponsor of terrorism" over its war in Ukraine.

Kaili herself has lobbied the European Parliament to abolish the Schengen visa for Azerbaijani diplomats, apparently on the basis of Azerbaijan's "attempted invasion" of Karabakh, despite the fact that Karabakh is undisputedly (unless one is Armenian, Russian, or Eva Kaili) Azeri territory.

Eva Kaili is also somewhat hostile to Türkiye, who she appears to suggest may invade Armenia.

"Azerbaijan is a major producer of oil and gas, and could easily pick up any shortfall resulting from EU sanctions against Russia. It is also working hard to develop its renewable energy sector, and so therefore one can well understand why the Kremlin might like to create a barrier between Baku and Brussels. Armenia is that barrier," EU Today noted.

"To this end Russia is reportedly seeking to bring about a regime change in Armenia, bringing down Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and thus preventing him making concessions to Azerbaijan during the peace talks that Moscow wishes to prevent," reads the article.

Qatargate, apparently, is only the tip of the iceberg, as "suspect" NGOs continue to operate with impunity in the European Parliament, negatively influencing the possibility of peace in the South Caucasus.