Armenian Song Andza Knadzi (Hovhannes Badalian) 

You only have petrodolars. NO HISTORY, NO HONOR, NO KNOWLEDGE, NO LANGUAGE, NO CULTURE, NOTHING. Do you know who is Bokova? Bokova has been one of Azerbaijan’s most high-profile supporters. On Oct. 22, 2013, UNESCO hosted a photo exhibition called “Azerbaijan - Land of Tolerance” at its headquarters in Paris. The event was held at the request of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which is chaired by Azerbaijan’s first lady, Mehriban Aliyeva. It was one of many events UNESCO hosted that highlighted Azerbaijan’s culture. Such cultural exhibitions are not as innocuous as they may seem. Promoting itself as a tolerant country is a tactic through which the Azerbaijani government ingratiates itself with the West and deflects criticism of its human rights record. That an organization as well-known as UNESCO would host such an event at a time when Azerbaijan was arresting dozens of civil society activists was unusual, and was criticized at the time. Bokova has ignored all criticism and maintains a friendly relationship with the Aliyevs. She was a regular guest in Baku and in 2010, she bestowed a UNESCO honor, the Mozart medal, on Mehriban Aliyeva, Azerbaijan’s first lady (who, since February, has also been the country’s vice president). The Aliyevs have been generous in return, including setting up a $5 million Azerbaijan/UNESCO Trust Fund to support events. As Aliyev was celebrating his victory in the 2013 elections, many human rights activists his regime had arrested on trumped-up drug charges were languishing in jail. Meanwhile, Bokova gushed: “On the occasion of your resounding victory in the recent presidential election, I wish to present to you, on behalf of UNESCO and in my own name, heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for your continued success in the highest office of the Republic of Azerbaijan.” The payment Mitrev received on Oct. 25 was just one of six. He received a total of €345,000 ($468,000) between 2012 and 2014 from three Laundromat companies to accounts in Bulgaria and Switzerland. An additional €40,000 did not arrive in his account after two attempts to make the transaction were rejected by Deutsche Bank “due to sensitivities.” Under current anti-money laundering legislation, banks must reject suspicious transactions. At the time of the payments, Mitrev was a private businessman. Today, he is a director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). www.occrp.org/en/azerbaijanilaundromat/the-influence-machine