Bangladesh, Jan. 24 -- A German courts conviction of former Bundestag member Axel Fischer has once again thrust the so-called “Azerbaijani Laundromat” scandal into the European spotlight, underscoring how foreign money was allegedly used to buy political influence at the heart of Europes human rights institutions. The ruling, handed down by the Munich Higher Regional Court on January 22, marks only the second time a former German member of parliament has been found guilty in connection with bribery tied to Azerbaijans extensive influence-peddling network.

Fischer, a longtime politician from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), received a suspended sentence of one year and two months for accepting bribes from Azerbaijani repr...