Convicted Corruption Case: Probation Granted for CSU Individual
In a landmark case, former German CSU Bundestag member Eduard Lintner has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended, for bribing public officials on behalf of Azerbaijan’s government to influence decisions in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). This conviction marks the first time a German lawmaker has been found guilty of such corruption linked to Azerbaijan.
The case, which has shed light on covert financial influence attempts by Azerbaijan on European institutions, is part of a broader strategy by the country to shape international opinion and legal frameworks in its favor. The scheme, known as the "Azerbaijani laundromat" money-laundering operation, involved payments to European politicians to mute criticism of Azerbaijan's human rights record and gain favorable treatment internationally.
According to the court, Lintner was present at a crucial agreement between the CDU politician and the Azerbaijani side in a hotel in Strasbourg in the fall of 2014. Money payments were agreed upon at this meeting, and the agreement was supposed to be valid indefinitely. The first payments from Azerbaijan to the CDU politician flowed through Lintner's company, with a consulting contract intended to conceal this.
Lintner, who has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he was not aware of any criminal offense and describing it as normal lobbying, received a suspended sentence of nine months and a fine of 10,000 euros. The court, however, believes that Lintner made "significant objective contributions" and had a personal interest in maintaining his business relationship with Azerbaijan.
The heirs of the CDU politician are to have around 111,000 euros seized, the amount she is said to have received. Other co-defendants in the case had their cases provisionally suspended upon payment of fines. One of the co-defendants, Axel Fischer, a former CDU Bundestag member, had his case separated due to his illness and will start again later.
Margarete Bause, deputy chair of Transparency Germany, welcomed the verdict, stating it is an important signal for protecting democratic institutions and against strategic corruption. This case underscores the need for vigilance against such influence attempts and the importance of upholding the rule of law in European politics.
The conviction of Lintner serves as a reminder of the potential risks and consequences of engaging in corrupt practices, particularly when it comes to influencing international institutions. Azerbaijan's attempts to influence PACE decisions through financial payments are a concern for the Council of Europe, which has been working to promote governance reform and human rights in Azerbaijan. As the investigation into this case continues, it is hoped that it will lead to further accountability and a strengthening of democratic institutions in Germany and beyond.
The conviction of former German CSU Bundestag member Eduard Lintner, who was found guilty of bribing public officials on behalf of Azerbaijan's government, is a part of the general-news and crime-and-justice categories, as it involves a high-profile political figure engaged in illegal activities. Moreover, this case is a significant instance of Azerbaijan's covert financial influence attempts on European institutions, as highlighted in the broader strategy to shape international opinion and legal frameworks, thus pertaining to general-news as well.
