“Excessive” criminal prosecution of a security consultant “Ibiza Gate” video Rights groups say that the overthrow of the Austrian government will deter whistleblowers and may violate basic freedom of press and information.
In an open letter, 15 Austrian and international organizations stated that the trial of Julian Hesentaler scheduled to begin on Wednesday was based on “partially fabricated accusations” that were “used to discredit and arrest” him.
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Austria Heinz-Christian Strache (Heinz-Christian Strache) Convicted last week Regarding corruption allegations related to the May 2019 scandal, the scandal ended the alliance between his far-right Liberal Party (FPÖ) and Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz’s People’s Party (ÖVP).
This incident can be traced back to the 2017 meeting between Strach and a woman who claimed to be the niece of a Russian oligarch in Ibiza, who promised her a state contract in exchange for his help in the campaign .
The FPÖ leader at the time also discussed the possibility of the woman buying Austria’s most popular tabloid Kronen Zeitung and shifting its editorial line more to the party’s anti-Islamic and anti-immigration platform.
Strache, he didn’t know that the meeting was a string and he was being filmed, Resign After the German weekly Der Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung published the video on their websites, he joined parliament leader Johann Gudenus.
Hessenthaler was arrested in Germany at the end of last year and extradited to Austria. The “extraordinary” prosecution against him aims to send a “clear signal” to future whistleblowers, accusing 15 NGOs, including Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International , Amnesty International Investigative Journalism and Electronic Frontier Foundation.
“The release of the video facilitated by Julian Hessenthaler triggered a discussion of significant public interest and gave the public an opinion on the suitability of Strach for public office,” Amnesty International Austrian Secretary Long Heinz Patzelt (Heinz Patzelt) said.
The judicial investigation launched after the video was released has led to at least 12 separate investigations into allegations of misconduct by Strache and others. Kurz is also under investigation for allegedly making false statements to a parliamentary committee on this matter. He said that he always answered questions truthfully.
Thomas Lohninger, executive director of the Austrian digital rights NGO epicenter.works, stated that the release of the video is protected by Austrian and German freedom of speech laws.
He said: “There is a strong feeling that the Austrian authorities are resorting to other criminal charges, or at least prosecuting them in an excessive manner in order to silence Hesenthaler. Obviously, he is becoming an example to deter potential Future informants express their opinions freely.”
A number of European investigation orders were executed against Hessenthaler, allowing extensive physical surveillance, access to bank accounts, home searches, phone surveillance, and retrieval of passenger name records from airlines.
He also faces charges of falsifying video-related documents and drug charges based on conflicting testimony from a convicted drug dealer who was released from prison after talking with investigators. Led by a close-knit civil servant. The non-governmental organization cited legal documents and media reports as saying to Strache.
“Whether he committed the document and drug-related crimes he is now charged must be resolved in court,” Loninger said. “However, the strength and resources used to investigate Julian Hessenthaler, who has the right to be presumed innocent, are extraordinary.”
Lohninger claimed that the signal is clear: “Those who reveal too much truth will face criminal investigations and cross international borders if necessary. This will inevitably act as a deterrent, preventing other whistleblowers from making disclosures, and will ultimately limit Austria’s Freedom of speech and freedom of the press.”
