Azerbaijan is said to have transferred millions to politicians in the Council of Europe – the country was apparently hoping for its own benefits. Charges have now been brought against two former Union MPs because of bribery allegations.
In the so-called Azerbaijan affair, a suspected corruption affair in the Council of Europe, the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office has brought charges against two former members of the Bundestag. Among other things, it concerns allegations of corruption and bribery of elected officials. The former politicians Eduard Lintner (CSU) and Axel Fischer (CDU) are said to have accepted money from Azerbaijan.
Lintner is said to have passed some of the money on to Karin Strenz (CDU), a member of the Bundestag who has since died, so that she could campaign for Azerbaijan in the Council of Europe. Fischer is said to have been involved in the Council of Europe for the country.
Foreign Shell companies?
Lintner is accused of having received an amount of several million euros through foreign letterbox companies. Two of its companies concluded contracts with a state-owned Azerbaijani company that provided for monthly payments for services allegedly provided.
Lintner used the money to recruit Strenz. The latter had promised that it would act in the Council of Europe in accordance with Azerbaijan’s requirements. It was said that she received a bribe of almost 150,000 euros and voted in favor of Azerbaijan in 2015 and 2016.
Since Strenz has since died, criminal proceedings can no longer be brought against her, as the public prosecutor’s office explained. The money she received as a bribe could, however, be confiscated by her heirs. The authority requested the confiscation of all funds obtained through the crimes.
Accusation: Bribery of elected officials
Fischer had agreed with a representative of Azerbaijan to act in the Council of Europe in exchange for cash “according to instructions in the interests of Azerbaijan”, “in particular through positive speeches, the early transmission of confidential documents and through his voting behavior,” explained the public prosecutor’s office. He campaigned for Azerbaijan in 2015 and 2016 and voted in favor of the country at least once. For this he received almost 22,000 euros.
The Attorney General’s Office accuses Lintner of bribery of elected officials, and Fischer of bribery of elected officials and aiding and abetting bribery. The authorities also brought charges against two other accused. They are essentially accused of aiding and abetting the crimes, she explained.
Lintner: “Big nonsense”
Lintner described the suspicion of bribery to the dpa news agency as “big nonsense”. After his time as a member of parliament, he worked as a lobbyist to ensure that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict region was assigned to Azerbaijan – a situation that, in his view, was “correct under international law.” The government there also paid money to his companies for this. However, he did not bribe other members of parliament with this.
Fisherman: “prejudgment”
Fischer told the dpa that the allegations against him “are not true, they only serve to prejudge.” The procedure is “not only stressful and dangerous for my family and especially for my children, but it is also destroying my professional and social life.” Both defendants are presumed innocent until convicted.
According to the authority, it was a complex investigation. Among other things, around 20 properties were searched nationwide, including members of parliament’s offices. The Munich Higher Regional Court will now decide on the admission of the charges and a possible main trial.
The Council of Europe advocates democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It has no legislative powers, but sees itself as the “conscience of Europe”. National representatives from the member states are sent to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Azerbaijan joined the Council of Europe in 2001.