On Saturday afternoon, a requiem was read in Vienna’s Augustinian Church for the section head of the Ministry of Justice, Christian Pilnacek, who died in October. His widow took the opportunity to settle scores with professional opponents of the top official.
“Christian did not kill himself. His life was taken,” said Pilnacek’s widow Caroline List, herself a top lawyer. During the requiem on Saturday, she emphasized that Pilnacek believed until the end that he could prevail in the internal legal dispute and refute the allegations against him.
Justice Minister Alma Zadic was absent
When it came to the settlement with Pilnacek’s professional opponents, List, himself chairman of the regional criminal court in Graz, did not name names. But among the ranks of mourners were four former heads of the Justice Ministry, Nikolaus Michalek, Maria Berger, Dieter Böhmdorfer and Wolfgang Bandstetter – but the incumbent Justice Minister Alma Zadic was missing, the “Presse” reported.
Found dead near Krems
Pilnacek was found dead near Krems on the night of October 20 after a police check during which his driver’s license was confiscated. He had been suspended since 2021 due to initial suspicions of betraying state secrets. Although an internal disciplinary committee lifted the suspension, Zadic maintained it.
In April 2023, the suspension was discussed again before a committee, and Pilnacek again protested his innocence. His death ended the procedure without a legally binding result.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
