![\"\"](\"https:\/\/covcasbulletin-info.hhd.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Trancparency-International-logo.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/a>Transparency International and six of its European chapters today called on the three top officials of the Council of Europe to investigate serious allegations of corruption in that organisation, and expressed dismay at the apparent lack of effective internal anti-corruption mechanisms at Europe\u2019s most important human rights institution.<\/p>\nTransparency International, the world\u2019s largest anti-corruption group, demanded a strong response from Secretary General Thorbj\u00f8rn Jagland to allegations recently reported by the European Stability Initiative (ESI) on corruption at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).<\/p>\n
In that research, ESI alleged that Azerbaijan, among others have unduly influenced, over many years, Council of Europe activities and votes on human rights issues, including by allegedly transferring huge sums of money and other favours to key parliamentarians.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny investigation into breaches of the Code of Conduct and follow-up are left completely to the discretion of the President of the Assembly, and under full control of the parliamentarians,\u201d states the letter, which was co-signed by six Transparency International national chapters in TI Czech Republic, France, Italy, Latvia, Spain and United Kingdom. An effective ethics corruption investigation mechanism must be independent and non-partisan.<\/p>\n
Transparency International urged Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbj\u00f8rn Jagland<\/a>, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers Ioannis Kasoulides<\/a> and President of the Parliamentary Assembly Pedro Agramunt Font de Mora<\/a> to take the following concrete steps:<\/p>\n \u201cIt is crucial to develop a robust response of integrity on the issue of political prisoners,\u201d according to the letter sent today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n