"There still doesn't seem to be much clarity over which category the "fake" licenses fall in." (Big Pistons Forever)
If I recall properly the EASA decision document "Suspension of Third Country Operator Authorisation" effective as of July 1 2020 does not reference the pilot licensure issues in any direct manner, nor does it refer to such issues by implication either. (Although, one would have to either recognize the particular contents of the provisions cited by the EASA or look them up, to be certain about whether or not the licensing issues were at least noted by subtle implication.)
But timing . . . it does not take much imagination, if any imaginings at all are needed, to see a pretty high likelihood that EASA's decision making officials were cognizant of the licensing controversy, and to understand that these issues were a factor which it is quite rational to "read between the lines" as part of the decision basis. And by controversy, it appears certain that the lack of clarity as to which type of fakery is involved is part of the situation.