Marc Verwilghen, the former Minister of Justice and Economy and Energy of Belgium, attempts to save the standing of Azerbaijan.

Verwilghen conducts pro-Azerbaijani propaganda within Belgian and European organizations.

Azerbaijan is a country, whose leadership is seriously criticized, editor Stijn Cools wrote in an article in De Standaard (The Standard, in English), a Flemish  newspaper of Belgium.  

The author also recalls that Verwilghen will soon become director of the European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) Benelux.

“In various international lists, Azerbaijan is among countries with a below average and bad indicator, in terms of the state of corruption and democracy.

“In 2013, the Azerbaijanis approached him, in particular, since he is a former politician and has the necessary connections.

“The Corporate Europe Observatory NGO writes (…) that this state, which is considered authoritarian, invests serious money in organizing international events.

“Of course, along with these events, major work is carried behind the scenes, and which is called ‘caviar policy.’

“This assessment was first used by the European Stability Initiative research institute, to describe the conduct of some European politicians, when they were given special treatment during their visit to Azerbaijan,” the article reads, in particular.