the, the type of data so much for the 1st 4 years. the sisters have been in a coma close by persecution and flights. meanwhile, 4 countries of another world wake up on non scots june. first on dw, azerbaijan,

a former soviet republic bounded by the caspian sea. the countries people and media are routinely suppressed. and yet the country is becoming increasingly important for europe due to its considerable gas and oil reserves punk shrub. i came here as an election observer on behalf of the council of europe. it was the 1st election where i saw a mass of electro fraud. my supervisor federal because they didn't have a interestingly, everything in this country is controlled and there's no free press, nothing for that. it's almost at the bottom of the press freedom index justifies ranking. that's why we filmed this secretly, and a great risk to all those wanting to shed light on how one of your biggest corruption scandals could happen. the exec declined along comes a little lawmaker who isn't poor and who sees this and then folded with all the

things they can do here, where they can get invited to, along with the president and his wife. and so some for totes, where they get gifts for, to have where ladies knock on their door in the night last night and put enough of some diamonds onto to and clubs and. and then they think they're far away from home, from berlin, in strasburg. and i'm away from it all day and they see this and they think of holding. the weather is lovely and everyone here is rich. so go ahead and put them on if there's no issue here. everyone's nice on zillow, and that gives some strange ideas. not everyone other about some insurance and they let themselves be bought and we have and the coffee buying european politicians. how does that work? the

funk schwab has been a member of the german parliament, the buddhist dog since 2005. the father also hits the german delegation in the parliamentary assembly of the council of europe. he travels regularly to strasbourg, the headquarters of the continents leading human rights organization. the council of europe was founded after the 2nd world war to safeguard human rights. this organization is clearly it's across rude human rights in general, or crossroads worldwide. in this, i'm side of it for all his dedication, he still believes politicians need to be prepared to compromise and design. and um, if we were to say that we would no longer have a need to insert dealings with azerbaijan or worse, then we wouldn't be left with much of them, but didn't kind of, i'm doing rather not part. of course,

i also realize we strengthened regimes by making economic deals with some of his email, all that and then the which i have never proposed that we should no longer have any to things with its own subset and within the, at the same time of them that doesn't mean you can't smoke, frankly. topics game guns is a frank discussion with us or by john even possible. the country lives from its oil and gas reserves. it's a cheap, considerable wealth and international standing with the fossil fuels. europe urgently needs this locus, this country is depending on how you look at the length of the oil. well smith of and one, but in effect, it's also a curse on it because without democratic oversight, the money ends up in the pockets of a few. and then 1000 from the ending line that the folks java is preparing for a risky meeting. he wants to offer hope to

a woman who's freedom is anything but a given. you know, because we're meeting kadijah is my alova the one of the most courageous and also best noon critics of the regime here and other by john and as i. but john kadijah is my a little bit of work as an investigative journalist and blogger endangers her life . only her prominence, an international pressure protector. the younger, the government is very cautious as it newly. she's a symbolic, bigger new york. she would arrest it tomorrow. that would be immediate international protest not to put the council if you rep would pass resolutions. and as everybody's john would be named and shamed and they don't want that. i don't as long as and as soon as she extends her hand in greeting men in plain clothes, presumably from the domestic secret service step in, they want to prevent her from giving an interview. hi, nice to meet you, i o. and we're trying to in the elevator,

she tells us to turn the camera back on. she ignores the officials and instructions 2015. it's difficult to leave with a feeling that of, or someone shot shot to the journalist refuses to be silent. even though her safety is at risk, you know, you walk through the city, you see the beautiful building. i sees a corrupt corruption and intimidation tactics are linked to the family of president gil home aaliyah of how the up took over power from his father. is my little boy's investigating the family's business affairs, so i've learned how to look into pen and money and registry. and i found 11 companies belong that belong to the president's family. she uncovered undisclosed share holdings belonging to the presidential family and privatized banks and

telecommunications companies. shortly afterwards, as my alova was sentenced to 7 years in prison, after a year and a half, she was released on parole after international protest. the child is my life and the teacher is my alova is one of the most dedicated defenders of human rights and journalists here and as a body, shan, and probably be all of us on the off the whole by analysis. this really is a shining example of someone who's risking her personal life, putting her happiness on the line. i'm for a good cause as an issue. leaving with this can a few that some little and she deserves to be supported internationally for her commitment by anyone who can aunt, who has a slight deans. and of course, it is incredibly disappointing to see that there are lawmakers who ultimately have staff people and kadijah is my little bit in the back of self interest them and those are their own personal gain voice. and one of that i'll mention the condition

as my lot and then what it's tragic and also really shameful progress. one of addiction, this the german politician is used to supporting people living under a dictatorship, who are fighting for their rights, freedom and dignity. but he never imagined that he would have to stand up to his own allies in the council of europe to do so. there's an issue that were in the heart of the parliamentary assembly of the council. if you are, other than had struck it all began in 2013 and one of his 1st votes as a member of the parliamentary assembly as well. that was the vote and the parliamentary assembly where as i mean an emotional debate and it was ultimately decided by a majority, that political prisoners do not exist and as oppression of to will need to be. but

that's also talk about the people who are in the prison. if we fight for mr. strays this report and goodness me, i hope we don't the, then we called stop there serious mistakes and deliberate distortion effects. so in view of the extremely complex to a political situation, which many colleagues have already addressed. very con office, a dangerous and delicate spec, done this reason. i do not hesitate to vote against this report. the vote was merely intended to establish the existence of political prisoners in azerbaijan, far from a secret. but quite unexpectedly, the majority of representatives voted against the report by the then deputy head of the german delegation. chris stops today so that somebody put in a chat with me personally to it took me a long time to get over into the class to this day. stay, sir, hasn't fully come to terms with the defeat. but why is that not a part of day to day politics?

it was unprecedented into the accounts of europe for the bottom entry assembly to reject the motion from a committee with such a majority that it wasn't just the outcome of the vote. that surprised space. but how it came about, the german commissioner for human rights had never seen anything like it then food to the planning race suddenly filled up unexpectedly on that well, when i have a 200 members in the room, which is an enormous number of cities parliamentary meetings, and it was absolutely clear that these people had be mobile and actually that as will be easier to but i've gone and the representatives were from italy, france and the u. k. but also from germany's books on this got them. they were equally people hawking. each other celebrating this result that time. and today i knew they were celebrating the fact that they were paid a lot of money from the offended dysfunction. i have to do the decision was bought a co, 4 serious allegations. several investigations into suspected corruption are

currently underway against former members of another european institution, the european parliament, and what designs are by john, have to say about the corruption allegations. we asked, the embassy gets response. azerbaijan is building relations with european countries in a transparent and legal manner. at the time punk schwab, i debated whether he should stay in the council of europe, his guns for the body of i find the whole celebration of as our approach on success to bizarre and disturb banks of. and i said as to either you leave it here in the or you try to do everything you can to prevent it from happening again. it's not my fault, even though i hadn't really understood what exactly had happened. but then someone in the know reached out to get because now says the head of the european stability initiative thing tech. he researches corruption world wide and has excellent connections all the way to azerbaijan. he told function of what his sources were

telling him the happenings on canadian we already had sources. and as there by john, who tried to explain it, kind of checking in with a few insiders explained how people were being systematically, bryant system. others might that be strong and be like how people were systematically different, gibson, the rooms have money, was transferred to the locations organized with a whole list of names and 3 members of the german going to stock it. wadlington access dish and cottage twins also came under suspicion. all 3 were said to have received money from us or by john travelling to the country and taking part in election observation emissions because it was uh, we could say was insiders explain to us how the regime operated on twice the reason what we're seeing is the results you all know that the representative to stand up and say that black is white, the rig the elections are for elections. political prisoners are hooliganism, criminals, and somebody twins fisher and lives now all denied the accusations. function

of it was also in boxes to observe the elections on behalf of the council it bureau on election day, the observers were meant to be visiting several pulling stations and documenting events. sh father recalls a disturbing encounter. and then come along a message, fence shopping bags on both arms on the the if the election of innovation the valuable robust on german law maker. coffee expense was also in baku to observe the elections. but she was visiting boutiques that day post when somebody suspense was shopping carts and it was confident the next day that it was another important step towards the free and fair elections. by, of course, it was nothing of the sort except one. in the meantime, authorities and other european countries had launched initial investigations,

but not in germany visiting the bank. we know things to autonomy in prosecutors doesn't as everybody on the assembly member had suspiciously transferred over 2400000 euros v electric box companies to an attorney in lawmaker of today come a few in your own and i will, i'm and i'm an update on that he was chair of the your team, people's party wanted to know that goose, which was the largest block in the parliamentary assembly hope enforced by law, but was right at the time of this votes on political prisoners. these we know not sure if i'm, the transfers are discovered the emails and the conversations between the 2 were discovered patients switching anytime e mailed him as a by johnny with an intake in an e mail. the italian think the answer by johnny representative with the words your gifts are very tasty and quote, your wishes mind command. he was convicted initially, but acquitted due to a lack of evidence. function bava and get all the canals hoped never the less that law enforcement agencies would take action. no one should get away scot free.

the reality was different than by john paine, because the by john remained a member of the council of europe to proceed to even when it became clear what was happening here. let me get if i could continue with impunity as an alternate to add a shot for this reason. or authoritarian states will not shy away from using money to try to corrupt or institutions and democracies. i'm part of minister the so called pm. the trail of corruption and violence also led to the mediterranean island of malta, the matthew cut along a cutter. looks back on the darkest days of his life. is this, this is the projects that stuff let to mine all those assessing nation is this project. the electro gas power plant is

a joint venture involving multi business people, german industrial giant, siemens and the as or by john state on company so far. it's part of been in business strategy to provide europe with gas by a pipeline from answered by showing in the future. daphne cut a want to cuz he discovered that high ranking, multi is politicians, were covertly involved in the gas project by a show companies in panama, the matthews brother, andrew remembers his mother's stunning reports. and when this came out, i remember feeling this sort of just this empty sensation in my stomach journalist daphne kajuana. colleagues, you didn't know her assess and nation was being planned. the, the bomb went off, as my mother was coming down the hill on the force of the explosion,

it just sent to the call, carrying into the fields here on that, it's ended up and in the spots. what is the banner, daphne cutter? wanna delete, see it died in the burning wreckage of her car. the investigation got off to a faltering start. it looked as if the authorities were trying to protect a powerful people in malta. but her son, matthew, pushed on. my mother was contacted by a soul from within the next throw gas on the sole source of single on the agreements that the more of these governments was refusing to publish. detailing the terms of the deals with those that are by john and with the, with the people from the private sector behind the projects and was on the follow

the money to geneva in switzerland. the answer by john state owns company. so car has offices there in a prime location to so cause ruling this was most likely as a vehicle for, for kickbacks to, to, to those most these politicians i mention with secret panama companies. so car did not respond to our request for comment. the brothers investigations led them deeper into a network of corruption and european politics. it all revolved around raw materials, scared people they've had, they could get away with mothering the country's most fame. as john noticed, then they could get away with anything, you know is just the question of a when they decide to act with your following them. they sought help outside malta and turn to the parliamentary assembly of the council of europe. pace punk schwab but took on the case it was actually even scary of

a cuz we knew so little so we didn't know we didn't know who was behind is it really felt like a mine cute on on. we obviously couldn't trust our own hall following national delegation and phase. unfortunately, despite massive resistance from us or by johnny representative summit said off a moment, fox baba and fellow campaigners were able to push through a special report. the council of europe listened to the brothers the pressure paid off. there were a rest and malta, and the 1st sentences were handed down. the family of the murdered journalist daphne caught a one. lizzie's continued their own investigative journalist, stick work. we will rainbows one call the dots. money came from mazda. everybody's on bones around europe, like that. being phone boy, going to switzerland, left to the then to the united arab emirates into

a bank account belonging to your getting authentic. no, because he is being prosecuted for his role in my mother's assassination. there is a distinct possibility that those funds way use the finances. they also have some nation that says, multi is businessman york in the neck is in custody and awaiting trial this year in connection with the murder in germany. investigations were launched into the 3 buddhist stock members. edward lynn fox of fisher and calvin spence in a statement, fish that referred to bogus evidence and politically motivated investigations. a few months later, coggan spends died suddenly at the age of $53.00. for the 1st time in years kadijah is milo if it was allowed to leave her country. her 1st destination germany to report at the buddhist talk on the situation in azerbaijan. less time i

was in the lane, it was 80 to secure this a to use i was on the travel then then in prison and then again on the travel then so it was difficult time. the journalist is also critical of germany's role. after all, that's happened. wire german politicians still sticking by us or by john. it's disappointed, but that's how it is. you understand that for you to pin politician a, he's constituency, demanding. the gas is much more important than azerbaijan, the political prison, commodities mean power and europeans are more dependent than ever before. vast quantities of raw materials will be crucial in implementing the european union's green deal, and phasing out as possible fuels like oil and gas. thanks to azerbaijan,

gas and oil reserves. president is hama. this is already a welcome guest and energy partner. and he clearly has his eyes set on the future. in september 2023 as or by shawnee troops took control of the dispute is not going to kind of buck region within just a few days us or by john celebrated its victory while over 130000 ethnic armenian split. when asked hazard by john said no one had been forced to leave the territory. the government report done as there by john's economic minerals indicates what this so called liberation operation was really about to the rule materials of the future. like copper, cobalt and lithium. just one month after the garner caught buck offensive, azerbaijan administer of ecology and natural resources move to

a bava. you have invited guests to the jewel mining for him in boxes. it was the 1st of its kind in the country show. the new territories are rich and natural resources, which will play an important role in reconstruction. thank you, and good luck. with that, i mean that's, that's the representatives from german organizations and companies also attended. what do you think and here does, we can find what we need for the future here. and for the future, we need metals for renewable energy is in the automotive sector. electra mobility or electron will be need to and many of the deposits are located in the previously occupied territories, which are now being developed under gradually being integrated into as a body shop, as economy integrated. because our bus on current uh does it by

john could be a very good partner for us to be in the sense that we could also obtain copper, gold, minium other resources. and this could enable, of very good cooperation from to buy a win win situation for both sides to on admin to get what role does the countries, human rights record play and all of this, to my mention advice to the subject of human rights isn't so straightforward. him, i don't know much about it. i must admit, i haven't really looked into insignificance when by the have doesn't go around poisoning dissidents in england or germany, or have them shot so killed in a strange. that doesn't happen here because you to these 4 mining companies. it's all about claims. the mining rights in the areas now under as or by show any control anglo agent mining is traded on the london stock exchange. the company had already made a deal with several 1000000000 euros with us or by showing a year before the military operation. far home had jace, is a topic executive it,

anglo age and mind. of course, i should not do that. the content strategic metro situation in the world was also more to be having that. and the, especially in the year of america, those mets, those demands will be a strategy at this strategy. so the concept love jessica, i'm not sure about john is looking to the future. the strategic foundation is being laid here in the border region with the go in a car box, minerals for future technologies, critical for the european green deal. these crucial role materials are intended to ensure that us or by john can continue to pursue its power politics and a post gas in oil era. the, let's look at it like that. except some you appear in countries the in countries

they wanted to leave that there to job to dollars there. and the, if they are paying now, they usually have to pay if during the assessments your phones, it says a little bit dependence on the all aspects on the others. lots in that reliable way. this is a situation that they have been themselves, you know, as or by john, the mining of critical raw materials is developing rapidly. why is europe cleaning on on it because of the aroma tv layer, which we need to model. we're not only doing this as, as our bodies and we're also doing this with china and other countries. and unfortunately, i could tell you stuff about all these other countries too. but that was especially unpleasant, but as there by the end, is it there shamelessly exploit chancellor of the german foreign minister and all

the other countries of europe member states. and that's where we stand with all of us under citizens. they go out of those members supporting this challenge, please rise in their places. the moment of truth previously the survey. so report was voted down here. yes, thank you. thank you. the challenge has the supports request under the rules of procedures and the, this is the 1st time us or by john has been held accountable in the counsel of your decision. it should, it's not pleasant to them, but we need to say no, we want to keep up with it. the customers be the last of the representatives of us or by john left in protest. almost simultaneously, the public prosecutor's office in munich brought charges against the 2 former members of the buddhist talk in connection with allegations of bribery by us are based on the battle for the raw materials of the future is only just beginning

and also by sean. and many other countries can europe take part without sacrificing its values? the ones move for a robot vacuum. one giant leap for exploiting the ocean floor. cutting edge technology is unlocking the potential of deep sea mining. but this time, the research team will study the possible risk funds in order to minimize the we have an opportunity to to get it right before we start environmental activists

of skeptical is this true nature conservation on the green washing rule bill billions to be made out to pub documentary, deep sea greed, stats, june 7th on t w. the . their cold wind countries defend into war and turmoil. un peacekeepers, often the last bastion to protect millions when states fail. successful peacekeeping requires the highest standards of conduct by all are united nations peacekeepers. both civilian and uniforms but what do we really know about those who are sent to bring peace? we get some really printing useless troops as a pretty broad for the ones as well.