Former German MPs Axel Fischer and Eduard Lintner, both from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), have been charged with bribery and corruption by German prosecutors on January 29th. This is part of a broader investigation into Azerbaijan’s alleged bribery network involving several European politicians.
The charges against Fischer and Lintner stem from accusations of receiving funds from Azerbaijan in exchange for public support, votes in favor of Azeri interests, and altering reports on human rights, particularly from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), to portray Azerbaijan more positively.
Fischer allegedly received bribes totaling €21,800 in 2016 and €4,500 in 2015, while serving as the PACE parliamentary rapporteur for Armenia. Lintner received €3.4 million in payments to his companies between 2012 and 2014, with unclear distribution between his companies and personal funds.
These charges are part of a larger network involving other politicians, including Karin Strenz, another former MP and PACE member who passed away in 2021. German authorities intend to confiscate the bribes received by Strenz.
In addition to Fischer and Lintner, charges have been brought against Lintner’s son and a former employee of Lintner and Strenz. Investigations continue into other MPs involved in the network.
The Azerbaijan Laundromat scandal was first exposed in 2017 by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), revealing Azerbaijan’s extensive bribery network across Europe. This network reportedly used a slush fund worth $2.9 billion to influence European politicians through gifts, trips, and payments.
The relationship between Azerbaijan and PACE has soured in recent years, particularly after Azerbaijan withdrew from PACE in January 2024. This withdrawal came after PACE voted not to ratify Azerbaijan’s credentials due to concerns over human rights and democracy records.
Azerbaijan cited racism, Azerbaijanophobia, and Islamophobia as reasons for its withdrawal from PACE, expressing disappointment over the lack of support against “Armenian aggression” in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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