Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination and the rule of law in Malta and beyond: ensuring that the whole truth emerges
Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination and the rule of law in Malta
and beyond: ensuring that the whole truth emerges
Rapporteur Omtzigh, ladies and gentlemen, honorable chairperson.
In our previous session, I have already addressed the question of
corruption and its pervasive effect on democracy and rule of law in this
hemicycle. I want to thank Mr. Omtzigh, for his excellent, precise and
honest report, which uncovers a singular yet important chain of the
interplay between authoritarianism and corruption.
Daphne Caruana Galiza, a name that we should not forget in this
hemicycle or in home countries or elsewhere, stood for what is right, what
is ethical and what is good for common people. She dared to open the eyes
of the public on corruption, and how it erodes democracy and rule of law in
Malta. For that on October 16 2017, this brave woman was assassinated
with a car bomb.
When we discussed the report of Mr. Van de Vart about the Azerbaijani
laundromat in this hemicycle, our colleagues where quick disown that one
of the key sources of the global corruption stems from Azerbaijan. The
argument was that a country should not be accused of such crime,
fortunately, in this report concrete names are singled out. I give you names,
the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the daughters of Azerbaijani
president, the Azerbaijani Minister of Emergency Situation, the Minister of
Energy, who were affiliated with the companies with shares in the infamous
Pilatus Bank mentioned in the Panama Papers. This bank was then
registered in Malta for covering up illicit construction and energy deals.
I underline this, because the corruption is never about the common people.
I underline this because it is exactly about the corrupt political and business
elites, which will not stop on their own. They will buy influence in otherwise
democratic polities, subvert them for their needs and use this or that
country a springboard for sponsoring illegal enrichment.
The improvement of the democracy and rule of law in Malta is important.
The full, comprehensive and transparent investigation of Daphna’s
assassination is paramount. This is single case yet a milestone for
determining whether we as parliamentarians are able to protect the
freedom of speech and journalists at large or not.
The instruments that we have at hand, namely GRECO and MONEYVAL
should be strengthened in order not to repetition of such cases. There
should be concrete mechanisms for protecting the journalists, here the
international NGO’s such as investigative networks, journalists sans
frontier, remain our key allies.
Our struggle against the corruption should not be confined to one or two
countries, it should be comprehensive, unyielding and principle in all the
cases. This is the only way that we can ensure that no other car-bombs are
traveling to silence journalists.
Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination and the rule of law in Maltaand beyond: ensuring that the whole truth emerges...Sos Avetisyan, Armenia
Rapporteur Omtzigh, ladies and gentlemen, honorable chairperson.
In our previous session, I have already addressed the question ofcorruption and its pervasive effect on democracy and rule of law in thishemicycle. I want to thank Mr. Omtzigh, for his excellent, precise andhonest report, which uncovers a singular yet important chain of theinterplay between authoritarianism and corruption.Daphne Caruana Galiza, a name that we should not forget in thishemicycle or in home countries or elsewhere, stood for what is right, whatis ethical and what is good for common people. She dared to open the eyesof the public on corruption, and how it erodes democracy and rule of law inMalta. For that on October 16 2017, this brave woman was assassinatedwith a car bomb.When we discussed the report of Mr. Van de Vart about the Azerbaijanilaundromat in this hemicycle, our colleagues where quick disown that oneof the key sources of the global corruption stems from Azerbaijan. Theargument was that a country should not be accused of such crime,fortunately, in this report concrete names are singled out. I give you names,the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the daughters of Azerbaijanipresident, the Azerbaijani Minister of Emergency Situation, the Minister ofEnergy, who were affiliated with the companies with shares in the infamousPilatus Bank mentioned in the Panama Papers. This bank was thenregistered in Malta for covering up illicit construction and energy deals.I underline this, because the corruption is never about the common people.I underline this because it is exactly about the corrupt political and businesselites, which will not stop on their own. They will buy influence in otherwisedemocratic polities, subvert them for their needs and use this or thatcountry a springboard for sponsoring illegal enrichment.The improvement of the democracy and rule of law in Malta is important.The full, comprehensive and transparent investigation of Daphna’sassassination is paramount. This is single case yet a milestone for determining whether we as parliamentarians are able to protect thefreedom of speech and journalists at large or not.The instruments that we have at hand, namely GRECO and MONEYVALshould be strengthened in order not to repetition of such cases. Thereshould be concrete mechanisms for protecting the journalists, here theinternational NGO’s such as investigative networks, journalists sansfrontier, remain our key allies.Our struggle against the corruption should not be confined to one or twocountries, it should be comprehensive, unyielding and principle in all thecases. This is the only way that we can ensure that no other car-bombs aretraveling to silence journalists.
