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If the alleged Russian millionaire heiress is “positive, she can donate to the association at any time,” Heinz-Christian Strache said at a villa in Ibiza. For example, to an association without official connections to the FPÖ. And he continued at the time: “It is a non-profit association with three lawyers. In this way, donations do not have to be reported to the Court of Accounts.” This statement from the former FPÖ vice chancellor was a central message in the Ibiza video that led to the breakdown of the coalition between ÖVP and FPÖ on May 18, 2019.
The prosecution for companies and corruption then began its investigation against the FPÖ associations.
16 specified months
Now, after 16 months of investigations, apparently the suspicion could not be confirmed and on Monday night it was announced that the Judiciary is closing its investigation.
No offense is determined anymore against the former party leader FPÖ Strache, who had just bragged in the Ibiza video with these circumvention constructions, against his former FPÖ club director Johann Gudenus and former FPÖ member of the national council Markus Tschank .
No evidence of a criminal act
Lawyers were informed that “there is no real reason for further persecution.” No proof of a criminal act could be provided, the prosecutor said.
The researchers focused on the associations “Homeland Austria”, “Austria on the Move”, “Economy for Austria” and the “Institute for Security Policy”.
Both the FPÖ, but especially Strache, will celebrate this news as a stage victory. Strache will once again present himself as a victim.
Strache’s Lawyer: “Completely Different Picture”
Strache’s attorney, Johann Pauer, said in an opening statement that WKStA had taken numerous “unpublished passages from the” Ibiza video “as part of the investigation.” These not only exonerated my client, but also gave a completely different picture. than the one that was transmitted through the passages selected by the Süddeutsche Zeitung and Spiegel ”, says Pauer.
Investigation of casinos continues
Three weeks before the Vienna elections, this news comes at just the right time for the former vice chancellor, for whom he now leads his own party. However, the investigation into the matter of the expenses of the former head of the FPÖ is legally more delicate than the shameful statements of the Ibiza video.
FPÖ chief Norbert Hofer will also feel confirmed, he said last year, that the FPÖ had not found an external donation fund after internal verification.
Strache’s case is not completely over yet: investigations into the occupation of positions at Casinos Austria are still continuing, according to the business and corruption prosecutor’s office. In addition to Strache and Gudenus, former ÖVP Finance Minister Hartwig Löger is also in the crosshairs.
No drug charges against Gudenus
There will also be relief in Gudenus due to another procedure: the drug accusations against the former president of the FPÖ club should finally be “yesterday’s news”.
The Vienna prosecutor’s office also suspended proceedings for traces of cocaine found on business cards.
