Trial for insult
Lawyer calls Schwesig “Russian sweetheart” and “corrupt”
27.05.2024, 22:24
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Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Schwesig has been the subject of much criticism for her support of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. A lawyer is so angry with the SPD politician that he calls her a “Russian sweetheart” and accuses her of corruption. He is now being tried for insult.
A lawyer has to stand trial in Düsseldorf for allegedly insulting Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Social Democratic Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig. According to the prosecution’s indictment, the 56-year-old sent two emails to the State Chancellery and Schwesig’s address in Schwerin that are quite offensive. In them, the lawyer referred to the SPD politician as a “Russian sweetheart” and “corrupt,” among other things.
For the public prosecutor, this means that the threshold has been crossed from permissible political expression to criminal insult. The lawyer, however, believes that the statements are covered by the freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution. The emails were not hate speech. He did not personally denigrate or disparage Schwesig anonymously and publicly on social networks. He merely criticized the politician in emails addressed to her personally for her support for the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
“Certainly not a masterpiece”
The lawyer also admitted in court that “the statements at the time were certainly not the highlight of my life,” but that he had been upset. In the first email, the lawyer had accused the Prime Minister of betraying the interests of the Federal Republic. In addition, her support of “the dictator and mass murderer in Moscow was disgusting and completely unacceptable.” In the second email four days later, the terms in question were used.
“Not everything that is tasteless is punishable,” said the defense attorney. After two hours, the district judge adjourned the hearing because the attorney wanted to read out further extensive statements in addition to a 29-page statement. Since no continuation date was found in the next three weeks, the case must be reopened. A date has not yet been set.