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Azerbaijan’s lobbying in PACE
The scandal surrounding Azerbaijan’s years-long secret lobbying and corrupt dealings in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is back in the spotlight following a recent verdict by the Higher Regional Court of Munich.
For the first time, a German court has sentenced a former MP over a bribery scheme orchestrated by Azerbaijani officials to influence European politicians — a practice widely known as “caviar diplomacy,” as described by journalists and watchdog groups.
The scandal severely damaged Azerbaijan’s reputation in European institutions, revealing a vast corruption network used to whitewash the country’s human rights record.
This article explores the Munich court’s verdict against former German MP Eduard Lintner, the broader network of European politicians implicated in the scandal, and the tactics used by Azerbaijani officials to shield the regime’s rights abuses. It also examines how this case has shaped perceptions of Azerbaijan across Europe — and what it means for political prisoners like Gubad Ibadoghlu.
Verdict and charges against Eduard Lintner
Former Bundestag member Eduard Lintner was found guilty of a corruption offence by a Munich court in July this year. The court ruled that the 80-year-old had paid bribes to European officials on behalf of Azerbaijan’s government — the first time in Germany that a former MP has been convicted on such charges.
Although Lintner denied the allegations, claiming he had lobbied for Azerbaijan “within legitimate and respectable boundaries,” the six-month trial revealed that the payments he made to other politicians amounted to bribery. He was handed a suspended sentence of nine months in prison.
As Die Zeit reported, the court upheld the prosecution’s arguments that Lintner had bribed elected officials — and the defence’s attempt to secure an acquittal failed.
The charges against Lintner focused on a system of influence and corruption he built to serve Azerbaijan’s interests. As early as the beginning of 2024, Bavarian prosecutors brought charges against Lintner and another former MP, Axel Fischer, under a statute targeting the “purchase of mandate-holders” — in other words, the bribery of parliamentarians.
The investigation found that Lintner had carried out covert lobbying for years in both PACE and the Bundestag, aimed at improving Azerbaijan’s image, while receiving large sums of money from abroad.
According to German MP Frank Schwabe, the court’s verdict makes it clear that Eduard Lintner “built a system of influence and corruption financed by Azerbaijan” — and was ultimately punished for it.
Karin Strenz and Axel Fischer: The course and outcome of the investigation
Two other prominent figures in the Lintner case were former members of the German Bundestag: Karin Strenz and Axel Fischer. Strenz represented Germany’s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and also served as part of the German delegation to PACE. She was named as one of the main recipients of bribes from both Lintner and directly from Baku, as part of the “Azerbaijani Laundromat” scheme uncovered in 2017.
Although Strenz died suddenly in 2021, the Munich court continued its investigation and concluded that she had received at least €111,000 from Azerbaijan. According to the verdict, this sum was deemed “proceeds from a criminal offence,” and the court ordered the same amount to be recovered from Strenz’s husband. The court found that she had received the money both through a lobbying firm set up by Lintner and directly from Azerbaijani officials — and in return, consistently advocated for Azerbaijan’s interests in PACE.
Axel Fischer, also a CDU member and former Bundestag deputy, served as head of the German delegation to PACE. He was also named among the key figures in the Azerbaijani corruption network. The Munich prosecution charged Fischer with bribery alongside Lintner. According to the charges, he received tens of thousands of euros from Azerbaijan between 2015 and 2016 — including, for example, a bribe of €21,800 in 2016 alone.
Fischer is reported to have voted in Azerbaijan’s interests in PACE in exchange for bribes — most notably in January 2016, when he served as the Assembly’s rapporteur on Armenia and supported Azerbaijan’s position in a vote related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Fischer denies any wrongdoing and rejects the charges. His criminal case was separated into a separate proceeding, and the trial has been paused due to health-related issues. Nevertheless, according to German law enforcement, the evidence gathered against him is considered substantial, and he remains one of the key figures in the “Azerbaijani corruption case.”
“Caviar Diplomacy” and a financial network of 19 shell companies
The main method used by Azerbaijani authorities to advance their interests in PACE was a large-scale bribery scheme later dubbed “caviar diplomacy.” The approach involved offering delegates from Council of Europe member states lavish gifts — such as caviar, carpets, and jewellery — along with paid trips and direct cash payments, in exchange for favourable positions toward Azerbaijan.
An investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), published in 2017 under the title The Azerbaijani Laundromat, revealed that between 2012 and 2014, Azerbaijan’s ruling elite operated a secret slush fund worth $2.9 billion to bribe political figures across Europe.
In some cases, money from this “slush fund” was channelled to PACE members through unofficial payments. In return, these parliamentarians backed pro-Azerbaijani resolutions in Strasbourg and helped water down critical reports on the country’s human rights situation.
Lintner played a central role in the “caviar diplomacy” scheme. After leaving PACE in 2010, he continued to act as an unofficial lobbyist for Azerbaijan. German investigators found that by 2016, he had received millions of euros through a network of 19 shell companies. Much of the money — allegedly aimed at “promoting friendship” between Germany and Azerbaijan — was passed on to pro-Baku politicians, including CDU’s Karin Strenz. One €61,000 transfer came just days after a report he authored praised Azerbaijan’s 2013 elections as meeting “German standards.” Other funds were routed through lobbying groups he founded in Berlin and distributed through networks in Belgium and elsewhere.
The indictment also named other individuals and organisations alongside Lintner. Among them was Belgian politician Alain Destexhe, a former member of PACE, who was accused of organising election observation missions in Azerbaijan through an association funded by Lintner.
In 2018, a witness testifying before independent Council of Europe experts investigating the corruption scandal stated that the key figure behind Azerbaijan’s lobbying efforts in PACE was Elkhan Suleymanov, a member of the Azerbaijani delegation. According to the witness, Suleymanov may have had access to as much as €30 million for these “dirty lobbying” activities.
Following these revelations, the Council of Europe took significant action, permanently barring 13 PACE members implicated in the corruption cases — including Lintner and Strenz — from participating in the organisation’s activities. It later emerged that at least eight of them had previously served as election observers in Azerbaijan. This underscored that “caviar diplomacy” was used not only to influence debates in Strasbourg, but also to manipulate international election observation missions.
Reactions across Europe: Public response and legal action
The “caviar diplomacy” scandal sparked outrage across Europe and led to concrete action. The Council of Europe launched an independent investigation, which confirmed that several PACE members had received payments in exchange for supporting Azerbaijan’s interests. Thirteen officials were permanently banned from the institution.
The case drew widespread media attention and was condemned by civil society groups. Transparency International welcomed the Lintner verdict and called for further accountability.
Law enforcement agencies in Germany, Italy, France, and other countries opened investigations. In Germany, police carried out raids tied to the case. In Italy, a former MP was convicted of taking bribes from Azerbaijan — a ruling later overturned on procedural grounds, but still seen as a legal precedent.
Across Europe, the scandal reinforced political momentum to address foreign influence and corruption at the highest levels.
Fallout for Azerbaijan’s reputation in Europe
In January 2024, PACE took an unprecedented step for the first time in its history: it refused to ratify the mandate of Azerbaijan’s new delegation. The vote passed with 76 in favour and 10 against, citing Azerbaijan’s severe violations of its commitments to human rights and democratic standards.
Official Baku withdrew its delegation from the Assembly just hours before the vote.
Ultimately, “caviar diplomacy” backfired: instead of delivering short-term image gains, it dealt a serious blow to Azerbaijan’s credibility at the pan-European level. Today, Azerbaijan’s attempts to use soft power and lobbying are met with suspicion, and statements from the country’s officials are viewed with growing distrust in European institutions.
#FreeGubad and the political prisoner problem
The “caviar diplomacy” scandal not only exposed corruption — it also renewed attention on Azerbaijan’s political prisoners. For years, Baku jailed opposition figures, journalists, and activists while bribing officials in PACE to avoid international condemnation. A striking example was the failed 2013 resolution on political prisoners, derailed by bribed lawmakers who abstained.
The case of economist and opposition figure Gubad Ibadoghlu has become symbolic. Arrested in July 2023, Ibadoghlu is widely seen as a prisoner of conscience. The hashtag #FreeGubad has gained traction among European politicians, including PACE members, demanding his release.
The Lintner verdict has underscored how bribery helped silence criticism of Azerbaijan’s repression. Now, that silence is breaking. European institutions are paying renewed attention to political prisoners, and calls for accountability are growing louder.
Two American service members were injured during the multinational military exercise Agile Spirit 2025, currently underway in Georgia, the Ministry of Defense confirmed to Civil.ge on August 1.
“In the Norio training area, during the drills, two military servicemen were injured when their vehicle overturned,” the ministry said, adding that their condition is “satisfactory” and they are undergoing preventive examinations.
Agile Spirit 2025, hosted by Georgia, officially began in Turkey on July 21 and opened in Georgia on July 25. Notably absent from the opening ceremony, held at the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC), was Georgian Dream Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani. The exercise will continue through August 8.
This marks the 12th iteration of Agile Spirit hosted in Georgia. More than 2,000 troops from 14 nations -including Georgia, the U.S., Turkey, Germany, and Ukraine – are participating. Over 800 U.S. service members are involved in this year’s drills.
The 2025 exercise comes as U.S.-Georgia relations continue to deteriorate. In July 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense indefinitely postponed the Noble Partner exercises – held in Georgia since 2016 – citing a broader review of bilateral ties. The Pentagon later said the decision followed false accusations by Georgian officials alleging that the U.S. was attempting to stir up tensions in the region.
The U.S. suspended the Strategic Partnership with Georgia in November 2024, amid the ruling Georgian Dream’s decision to postpone unilaterally EU accession efforts until 2028.
Also Read:
- 22/08/2023 – “Agile Spirit 2023” Exercise kicks off in Georgia
- 06/08/2021 – Agile Spirit Drills Wrapped Up in Georgia
- 18/09/2020 – In Photos: Noble Partner 2020 Drills – Closing Ceremony
- 09/08/2019 – 2021: Multinational Agile Spirit Drills Begin in Georgia
- 09/08/2019 – 2019: Multinational Agile Spirit Drills Wrapped up in Georgia
This week, a German court sentenced former Bundestag member Eduard Lintner to a suspended prison term for bribery linked to Azerbaijan, the key accuser in Azer Gasimli’s trial testified in court, and Russia issued a search warrant for Azerbaijani diaspora leader Shahin Shikhlinski following a deadly police operation in Yekaterinburg.
Eduard Lintner receives 9-month suspended sentence for bribery linked to Azerbaijan
On July 30, the Munich Higher Regional Court found former German lawmaker Eduard Lintner guilty of bribing officials in the so-called “Azerbaijan affair.” The court sentenced Lintner to nine months of suspended imprisonment after a months-long trial.
The Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office accused Lintner of channeling Azerbaijani funds to bribe other officials, aiming to secure pro-Azerbaijan votes in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Between 2008 and 2016, Lintner reportedly received nearly €4 million via intermediary companies connected to Azerbaijan.
A former state secretary, Lintner served in the Bundestag for 33 years and was a PACE member until 2010.
The scandal also implicated other politicians, including the late Karin Strenz, a Bundestag MP from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and known supporter of Azerbaijan. Strenz had voted against a report on political prisoners in Azerbaijan and passed away in March 2021.
Azer Gasimli’s trial continues as reported victim testifies
On July 30, the Baku Grave Crimes Court held another session in the trial of political scientist and director of the Institute for Political Management, Azer Gasimli. He was arrested on December 8, 2024, and charged under Article 182.2.3 of the Criminal Code (extortion involving threats or force).
Gasimli maintains that the case is politically motivated and claims the charges are fabricated.
During the hearing, presided over by Judge Telman Huseynov, the victim, Gurbanali Yusifov, gave testimony. Yusifov, who is involved in cryptocurrency trading, stated that he and Gasimli initially met through the REAL Party and later went into business together. He claimed that after a financial loss in a joint crypto venture, Gasimli threatened him and coerced him into signing a statement acknowledging a $45,000 debt.
He further claimed that Gasimli threatened his family and child, leading him to flee the country.
However, previous court proceedings have revealed that Yusifov had acknowledged the debt in both Mingachevir and Sheki courts. Gasimli’s lawyer, Agil Layij, stated that a civil court had already ruled in Gasimli’s favor, though the decision was later overturned for jurisdictional reasons and transferred to a commercial court.
The hearing has been postponed to September 10 after Yusifov requested time for his new lawyer to review the case materials.
Azerbaijani diaspora leader wanted by Russian authorities
Russian police have issued an official search warrant for Shahin Shikhlinski, a prominent Azerbaijani diaspora leader based in the Ural region.
According to a statement released by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs on July 30, Shikhlinski is wanted under an unspecified article of the Russian Criminal Code. The charges are believed to be linked to a broader investigation into unresolved murders in Yekaterinburg.
Shikhlinski was initially detained on July 1 after Russian special forces conducted a high-profile operation targeting Azerbaijani nationals in the city. The operation, carried out near the Baku Plaza shopping center, resulted in two deaths and multiple arrests. Shikhlinski and his son were stopped while driving a Mercedes-Benz G-Class. He was briefly detained for questioning and then released.
His son, Mutavalli Shikhlinski, was later arrested on July 16 and charged under Article 318.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (use of force against a law enforcement officer).
The incident has heightened tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan. Russian authorities have yet to disclose further details regarding the charges or investigation.
The post Friday Wrap-up: Former German MP sentenced for Azerbaijan bribery case, political scientist Azer Gasimli’s accuser testifies in court, and Azerbaijani diaspora leader wanted in Russia appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.