Munich – Caviar diplomacy on trial: film screening and public debate

ESI’s Gerald Knaus spoke at a public event in Munich on Azerbaijan’s “caviar diplomacy” in European countries. The event was held on the eve of the corruption trial against Eduard Lintner and Axel E. Fischer and started with the screening of the documentary "Am Abgrund" ("On the brink") by Daniel Harrich (SWR/ARD), highlighting corruption and manipulation in the Council of Europe.
The film was followed by a panel discussion with Frank Schwabe (MP), Gerald Knaus, and Daniel Harrich (diwafilm GmbH), moderated by Thomas Kirchner (Süddeutsche Zeitung).
Gerald described Azerbaijan’s campaign of “caviar diplomacy” in the Council of Europe, i.e. the use of bribes, lavish gifts and expensive hospitality, such as offering caviar and other luxury items, to sway foreign diplomats, politicians, and influential figures. The purpose of caviar diplomacy was (and is) to soften criticism of Azerbaijan’s human rights record, its undemocratic elections, or to gain favourable votes and statements in international forums. This strategy is aimed at undermining the integrity and impartiality of the Council of Europe.
Gerald warned that not all politicians in the West understood the fragility of Western democracies and the efforts of other states like Russia to undermine them with the help of corruption.
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— Gerald Knaus (@rumeliobserver) January 16, 2025
Caviar diplomacy on trial
Historic process starts in Munich today.
More: https://t.co/dh3TSZB3FB
@PieterOmtzigt @coe pic.twitter.com/U64v3guEf7

- Süddeutsche Zeitung, Das perfekte Verbrechen? (“The perfect crime?”), 16 January 2025
- Der Spiegel, Herr Lintner, Herr Fischer und das freie Mandat (“Mr Lintner, Mr Fischer and the free mandate”), 16 January 2025
- Abendzeitung, Ex-CSU-Funktionär auf der Anklagebank: Kaviar, Millionen und Korruption (“Ex-CSU functionary in the dock: caviar, millions and corruption”), 16 January 2025
- ESI Publication: When Aliyev’s MPs were shown the door - A historic PACE debate, 24 January 2024
- ESI proposal website: Caviar Diplomacy
- ESI Newsletter: The strangest love affair – autocrats and parliamentarians, from Berlin to Strasbourg
- ESI Newsletter: A European swamp – corruption and human rights