Former German MP Gets Suspended Sentence for Azerbaijani Bribes

The Munich Higher Regional Court gave former Bundestag deputy Axel Fischer a suspended 14-month sentence, barred him from public office for two years, and confiscated funds for accepting bribes from Azerbaijani officials to promote their interests within PACE; he denies the charges and is appealing. The ruling follows the July 2025 conviction of former CDU deputy Eduard Lintner linked to the “Azerbaijani Laundromat” scheme, who is also appealing. Transparency International Germany welcomed the verdict as a significant step toward accountability in Europe.