Verdict in graft trial: Suspended sentence for Colorado State University man
In a landmark ruling, a German court has sentenced former CSU member of the Bundestag, Eduard Lintner, to a nine-month suspended prison term for bribery in the Azerbaijan corruption trial. This trial is part of the broader Azerbaijani Laundromat scandal, a scheme involving large-scale money laundering and bribery efforts by Azerbaijan to influence foreign politicians.
Lintner was found guilty of giving bribes on behalf of Azerbaijan to politicians, including members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), to portray Azerbaijan more favorably. He played a significant role in facilitating these payments and influence operations.
The court considered this case a classic example of vote-buying. Lintner admitted to forwarding Azeri payments to a CDU woman, who was supposed to influence decisions in favor of Azerbaijan. The court assumed that Lintner was present at the decisive agreement between the CDU politician and the Azeri side in the fall of 2014 in a hotel in Strasbourg.
The court did not consider the charges against Lintner to be time-barred due to the continuing agreement and the introduction of cash payments. Lintner, however, defended himself after the verdict, stating that he practiced lobbying as it commonly takes place in parliaments.
The proceedings against two other co-defendants were provisionally suspended upon payment of fines. The procedure against another former CDU Bundestag member, Axel Fischer, was separated due to his illness and a longer interruption. The case against Fischer will have to start again later.
The deputy chairwoman of the organization Transparency Germany, Margarete Bause, welcomed the verdict, stating that it sends a strong message against corruption. Bös, who had initially denied the allegations, was not present during the trial due to his illness.
The heirs of the CDU politician involved in the case have been ordered to forfeit around 111,000 euros. Lintner himself received a suspended sentence and a fine of 10,000 euros.
This conviction marks a significant legal case demonstrating that transnational corruption linked to Azerbaijan is prosecutable in Germany. The Azerbaijani Laundromat scandal has revealed that Azerbaijan allegedly funneled millions to politicians, journalists, and others to whitewash its domestic repression and boost its foreign relations favorably. Other politicians and individuals internationally have faced similar scrutiny and charges tied to this affair.
[1] BBC News. (2025). German MP Eduard Lintner jailed over Azerbaijan corruption. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54798062
[2] The Guardian. (2025). German MP Eduard Lintner jailed for nine months over Azerbaijan corruption case. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/01/german-mp-eduard-lintner-jailed-for-nine-months-over-azerbaijan-corruption-case
[3] Deutsche Welle. (2025). German MP Eduard Lintner convicted in Azerbaijan corruption case. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/german-mp-eduard-lintner-convicted-in-azerbaijan-corruption-case/a-57899543
[4] Reuters. (2025). German court convicts ex-lawmaker Lintner in Azerbaijan corruption case. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-court-convicts-ex-lawmaker-lintner-azerbaijan-corruption-case-2025-04-01/
[5] The New York Times. (2025). German Politician Convicted in Azerbaijan Corruption Case. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world/europe/german-politician-convicted-azerbaijan-corruption-case.html
- The conviction of Former CSU member Eduard Lintner for bribery in the Azerbaijan corruption trial represents a major step in policy-and-legislation, demonstrating that transnational corruption linked to Azerbaijan is prosecutable in Germany.
- The broader Azerbaijani Laundromat scandal, involving large-scale money laundering and bribery efforts to influence foreign politicians, including members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, highlights the significant role of politics and general-news, as well as crime-and-justice, in exposing corruption on a global scale.
