A Politician in Hot Water: Till Backhaus, Minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Accused of Wolveslaughter
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Environmental Minister Backhaus Faces Accusations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - Environmental Minister Backhaus of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern faces potential legal action for his alleged actions.
The Rostock district's prosecutor's office is set to indict Till Backhaus, Minister of Agriculture and Environment in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and a member of the SPD party, for breaking wildlife conservation laws by gunning down a wolf last April.
According to a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, Backhaus and several employees of his ministry and district are accused of violating the Federal Nature Conservation Act. The charge is that Backhaus exerted undue influence on the taking of a protected wild animal.
In a bold defense, Backhaus argues that the wolf had been persistently harassing a farm dog and "apparently engaged in an amorous interlude" with it. This posed a potential risk of creating wolf-dog hybrids, which could impact the wolf population's health. Based on this, the Rostock district granted a shooting permit.
Parliamentary Panel Backs Removing Backhaus' Immunity
However, a post-mortem examination exposed the wolf as not pregnant. On Wednesday, the Schwerin state parliament's legal committee suggested lifting Backhaus' parliamentary immunity. Ultimately, the decision rests with the state parliament.
The wolf incident has also made waves in administrative courts. After the Higher Administrative Court of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern declared the shooting illegal back in February of this year, the ministry and district appealed to the Federal Administrative Court. It's crucial to note that the legality of the shooting won't hinge on the Federal Administrative Court's decision, as per the prosecutor's office in Rostock.
- Till Backhaus
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- SPD
- Wolf
- Rostock District
- Rostock
Find out more about Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the state where the controversial wolf shooting took place.
Insights: Based on data up to early 2025, the status of charges against Till Backhaus for shooting a wolf in April 2020 remains unclear, with no recent updates or decisions made public in this regard. Keep an eye on official Mecklenburg-Vorpommern government releases, court records, or local news for the latest developments in this scandal.
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft decision regarding the case of Till Backhaus, Minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, who is accused of breaking wildlife conservation laws by shooting a wolf.
- Till Backhaus, a member of the SPD party, is currently embroiled in a crime-and-justice controversy due to his alleged violation of the Federal Nature Conservation Act.
- The ongoing wolf controversy in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, as well as Backhaus' defense of the shooting, has sparked debate in the general-news sector.
- The Rostock District, where the controversial shooting took place, is currently investigating the case within the scope of its administrative courts.
