The High Land Court of Munich has approved the charges against former member of the Bundestag from the Christian Social Union (CSU) Eduard Lintner and his colleague from the Christian Democratic Union Axel Fischer, Münchner Merkur writes.

They are suspected of bribery and corruption, in particular, that they took money from Azerbaijan to whitewash the image of the authoritarian regime.

According to prosecutors, they received payments to influence decisions in favor of Azerbaijan in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Lintner served on the PACE until 2010 and, according to investigators, had received “multimillion-dollar sums from foreign companies” by 2016. He reportedly sent some of the money to other deputies who were supposed to influence decisions in Azerbaijan's interests.

According to the investigation, he made positive speeches in favor of Azerbaijan and forwarded confidential documents. It is reported that for this he received a bribe of 21,800 euros.

The trial will begin on January 16.