Formation | December, 2008 [1] |
---|---|
Dissolved | September 2016 |
Location | |
Region served | Worldwide |
Leader | n/a |
Website |
www |
Tony Blair Associates (TBA) was an umbrella organisation established by Tony Blair to "allow him to provide, in partnership with others, strategic advice on a commercial and pro bono basis, on political and economic trends and governmental reform". [2] The profits from the firm went towards supporting Blair's "work on faith, Africa and climate change". [3] The firm was closed down in September 2016. [4]
Blair, with his Quartet and TBA roles, worked with the Kazakh government, advising the regime on judicial, economic and political reforms. [5]
In June 2014, Blair was looking for an office Abu Dhabi to help attract middle-eastern business for TBA. By July, Blair had been hired to advise on the export of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe, a project being run by a consortium of companies led by BP. [6]
Blair was subjected to criticism for potential conflicts of interest between his diplomatic role as a Middle East peace envoy and his work with Tony Blair Associates, [7] [8] [9] and a number of prominent critics even called for him to be sacked from his peace envoy role. [10]
Blair was subject to criticism after accusations of "whitewashing" the image and human rights record of the regime in Kazakhstan. [5] In particular, opposition activists published an open letter in a Kazakh newspaper, Respublika, claiming Blair would have "blood on his hands" if did not stop assisting President Nursultan Nazarbayev.[ citation needed] Blair responded to such criticism by saying his choice to advise the country was an example of how he could "nudge controversial figures on a progressive path of reform" and stated that he received no personal profit from this advisory role. [11] The Kazakhstan foreign minister said that the country was "honoured and privileged" to be receiving advice from Blair. [12] [13]
Blair was reported to have accepted a business advisory role with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, a situation deemed incompatible with his role as Middle East peace envoy; [14] Blair described the report as "nonsense". [15]