Ottoman Empire's henchmen.” United Nations reform Brok is a supporter of the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, an organisation which advocates for democratic reformation of the United Nations, "to allow for greater public participation in the activities of the UN." Controversies Lobbying activities Between 2004 and May 2011, Brok was Senior Vice President for Media Development at Bertelsmann. According to information broadcast by German media his activities as lobbyist of Bertelsmann were also scrutinized by the EU Commission. According to journalist Lutz Mükke (2005) Brok used his influence to ban Hajo Friedrich, who published a critical article concerning Brok's muddy activities, from the political ressort of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. In an interview with the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung, Brok reflected his activities and stated that for him politics was not profession, but hobby. Accordingly, critics of Brok call him a "hobbyist". In 2011, members of the European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs voted unanimously against a request by German prosecutors to lift Brok's immunity in a tax blunder. Italian MEP Francesco Speroni had been tasked to write the parliament's view on the matter. Brok has recently declared that he receives between 5.001 and 10.000 EUR per month as a "consultant for a company" but, unlike several of his MEP party colleagues, remains opaque about the company he works for. Femen attack in Brussels On 21 March 2013 women's rights activist and Femen-founder Alexandra Shevchenko assaulted Elmar Brok in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, after luring him outside the building with a phony interview request. Femen accused Brok of soliciting the services of Ukrainian prostitutes and insulting Ukrainian women. Although Femen never disclosed its source, instead mentioning "reliable informations"(sic), the Kyiv Post reported shortly after that circumstantial evidence points to First Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Renat Kuzmin being involved. The European External Action Service denied all allegations against Brok, citing his intensive agenda during his visit. After the assault, one Femen activist was able to flee the scene while Shevchenko was arrested by police officers. Brok did not press criminal charges against Shevchenko. Recognition Grand Golden Decoration of the Republic of Austria Order of Grand Officer of Luxembourg 2002 – Commander, Order of St. Gregory (appointed by Pope John Paul II) 2003 – Alois Mock Prize for the European of the Year 2003 – MEP of the Year, awarded by European Voice