Axel Fischer and Eduard Lintner, former Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and members of the German Bundestag until 2009 and 2021, respectively, are at the center of these allegations. The Munich prosecutor’s office filed the charges.
Another implicated politician, Karin Strenz, also faced suspicion but passed away in 2021.
A meticulous investigation over four years culminated in these accusations of corruption and bribery.
The findings reveal that Lintner allegedly received funds from Azerbaijan’s authorities and redistributed them to fellow MPs, including Strenz. The purpose was to secure decisions in Azerbaijan’s favor, especially within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
Prosecutors believe Strenz had committed to acting “in accordance with Azerbaijan’s expectations.” Fischer is similarly accused of an agreement in 2011 with an Azerbaijani parliamentary representative, supporting Baku’s interests at PACE for future financial rewards. His reported actions included delivering “positive” speeches, leaking confidential information, and strategic voting.
While Lintner admitted to lobbying for Azerbaijan, with his companies receiving over 3 million euros, he challenges the fairness of the charges. Former MP Mark Hauptmann faced similar allegations in a related case, but the investigation was later dropped.
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The “Azerbaijan Laundromat,” a term coined for a Europe-wide lobbying and money-laundering operation uncovered by OCCRP in 2017, implicated Fischer and Lintner. This scheme reportedly involved Azerbaijan’s ‘caviar diplomacy’ to influence European policy.
Baku used a secret $2.9 billion slush fund to offer free trips and lavish gifts to European MPs, among other things. In return, these MPs would vote in favor of Baku and positively amend PACE’s human rights reports, even as Azerbaijan imprisoned numerous political dissidents.
OCCRP and Süddeutsche Zeitung’s investigation highlighted Lintner, Fischer, and Strenz’s involvement in benefiting from these tactics. Prosecutors are pursuing the seizure of the alleged bribes Strenz received before her unexpected death in 2021. Fischer’s involvement was confirmed by German prosecutors in 2021.
Munich prosecutors have also charged Lintner’s son, accused of facilitating the scheme and being a former employee of Lintner and Strenz. Neither has responded to inquiries from Der Spiegel.
Frank Schwabe, head of the Bundestag’s Council of Europe delegation, told the magazine, “In the end, these proceedings will trigger a chain reaction. After all, these three are just part of a German and European corruption network surrounding Azerbaijan.”
The Munich prosecution office is also investigating Elkhan Suleymanov, a former Azerbaijani MP who led a Baku-based NGO implicated in the payment process. Suleymanov is believed to have recruited Fischer. He has not responded to inquiries from OCCRP and Der Spiegel.
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Fischer is accused of receiving a bribe of 21,800 euros ($23,590) in 2016. However, the statute of limitations has expired for suspected payments received in 2015, totaling 4,500 euros.
These payments were allegedly in exchange for pro-Azerbaijan votes, such as during a 2016 vote on the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Artsakh. At that time, Fischer served as PACE’s parliamentary rapporteur for Armenia.
Strenz reportedly received at least 22,000 euros ($24,270) through a lobbying company established by Lintner.
Meanwhile, Lintner’s two companies received a total of 3.4 million euros ($3.7 million) between 2012 and 2014. The exact amount he personally gained remains unclear.
During the investigation, police searched about 20 locations across Germany, including Bundestag offices. They issued approximately 15 European investigation orders or requests for mutual legal assistance to countries such as Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, and Turkey.
These charges emerge as Azerbaijan’s relationship with PACE deteriorates.
Every year, PACE member countries present the credentials of their delegations for ratification. On January 24, PACE voted 76 to 10, with four abstentions, against ratifying the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation, citing concerns over the country’s human rights and democratic practices.
Before the vote’s outcome, anticipating its results, Azerbaijan’s delegation withdrew from PACE.
Samad Seyidov, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation, stated, “Nobody in the world, including those sitting in this hall, can speak with Azerbaijan in the language of threats and blackmail. In the face of the current unbearable atmosphere of racism, Azerbaijanophobia, and Islamophobia in PACE, the delegation of Azerbaijan decides to cease its engagement with and presence at PACE until further notice.”
