Controversial Wolf Shooting: Minister Backhaus, Under Fire for Potential Legal Violation
Minister Backhaus under investigation for alleged wolf slaughter - Minister Backhaus allegedly faces potential charges after reportedly slaying a wolf.
Five long years have passed since a wolf was mercilessly gunned down in the Rostock district, allegedly shagging a pooch multiple times. The man behind this controversial act, Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus (SPD), might soon find himself in the dock, as prosecutors suspect that the slaughter was a clear violation of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. The authorities in Rostock have confirmed that there's enough evidence to raise reasonable doubt. The suspicion is that Minister Backhaus coerced the local authorities to issue an exception permit for the hardhearted deed.
With parliamentary immunity shielding him as a member of the state parliament, Backhaus must first lose this protection for the charges to be filed. The legal committee of the state parliament obliged the request of the prosecution in their recent meeting and recommended the suspension of Backhaus' immunity. The parliament's approval, which is expected in the coming week, is the only step left before charges can be served.
Minister, with a straight face, defends the deliberate murder
Backhaus had justified the cold-blooded execution of the wolf about a year and a half ago with species protection and stands by his position. "In March 2020, the Rostock district granted a permit for a wolf's elimination upon application from the Ministry of Environment, which had been disrupting a farm dog's peace and apparently carried on an amourous affair. There was thus a risk of hybridization. Hybridization poses a threat to the wolf population," Backhaus clarified in Schwerin.
It was found during the autopsy of the wolf slaughtered in April 2020 that the wolf was not carrying a precious cargo. According to the ministry, prior attempts to catch the creature and attach a transmitter had failed.
Legal experts see preventive murder as a breach of law
At first, the killing, which was performed with an exception permit from the responsible local authority, was considered legal. However, the Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald expressed a different opinion at the beginning of this year, leading to the prosecution getting involved. According to the prosecution, only the killing of wolf hybrids is allowed in the interest of species protection, not the preemptive taking down of an allegedly pregnant wolf.
Minister Backhaus, in a surprisingly unapologetic statement, made it clear that he couldn't comprehend the Rostock prosecution's decision to bring charges. "The allegations are factually incorrect. Instead, those involved acted lawfully in their attempt to thwart hybridization risks associated with their official duties," Backhaus maintained, adding that the administrative court had already confirmed this. The legality of the permit to kill the wolf remains in question, as the case is currently subject to an appeal hearing at the Federal Administrative Court.
- Till Backhaus
- Wolf
- Rostock district
- Prosecution
- Rostock
- Charges
- Schwerin
- SPD
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Suspicions of corruption and potential cover-ups surround the case, as many question Backhaus' motivations and actions in the affair. Despite the potential legal consequences, Backhaus continues to defend his actions, maintaining that the killing served to protect the wolf population. The situation remains complex, and further developments continue to unfold.
- The Rostock prosecution is charging Till Backhaus, the Agriculture Minister and SPD member, for a potential violation of the Federal Nature Conservation Act regarding the shooting of a wolf in the Rostock district.
- If Backhaus loses his parliamentary immunity, charges can be filed against him, with the parliament's approval expected in the coming week.
- The killing of the wolf, which occurred in March 2020, was allegedly carried out to prevent hybridization, a justification that Backhaus continues to stand by.
- Legal experts have deemed the preemptive murder of the wolf as a potential breach of law, citing that only the killing of wolf hybrids is allowed in the interest of species protection.
- The situation is further complicated by allegations of corruption and potential cover-ups surrounding Minister Backhaus' actions in the case.
