Baudenbacher rejects accusations made by Þorvaldur

Carl Baudenbacher, former president of the EFTA Court, has rejected accusations made about him by former professor Þorvaldur Gylfason in an interview with Brussels-based outlet EUobserver, mbl.is reports.

In a statement, Baudenbacher described the accusations as false and defamatory. He also criticised the EUobserver journalist for not seeking his response before publishing them. Baudenbacher said he requested a correction and the right to reply on Wednesday evening but had received no response.

In the interview, Þorvaldur said Baudenbacher was known for having worked for “Putin’s government in Moscow” and for representing a Russian oligarch who had allegedly tried to evade sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine. He also said Baudenbacher had been brought to Iceland by the No campaign, which opposes membership negotiations with the European Union.

Baudenbacher says those claims are false.

Baudenbacher was scheduled to give a lecture at the University of Iceland’s ceremonial hall on 10 August, but the venue was changed because of opposition from university rector Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir. In the lecture, he argued that Iceland’s interests would be better served within the EFTA pillar of the European Economic Area than through European Union membership.

Baudenbacher says he came to Iceland at the invitation of University of Iceland professors Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson and Ragnar Árnason. He says he was not paid for the lecture and received only reimbursement for travel and accommodation.

He also rejects the claim that he represented a Russian oligarch seeking to evade European Union sanctions. In his statement, he refers to Vélfag ehf., an Icelandic company subject to restrictive measures over alleged links to Russia. Baudenbacher says the company’s Icelandic lawyer requested that he represent its interests and that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs approved his appointment. Vélfag has complained to the EFTA Surveillance Authority about the measures.

Baudenbacher says it is “not an argument but insinuation” to equate legal work for a party subject to sanctions with providing services to a foreign state.

“The right to legal assistance, including in politically sensitive cases, is a cornerstone of the rule of law,” he said.

He also criticised EUobserver for failing to seek his response before publishing the interview, saying journalistic standards required this when serious personal accusations were being made.

Baudenbacher said the timing of the accusations, two days before the referendum, spoke for itself. Instead of responding to his legal and political arguments, he said, there was an attempt to link him to Russia and Putin.

He said he had demanded that EUobserver publish his response and correct the false claims within 24 hours, and that he reserved all rights in the matter. The interview remained unchanged on EUobserver’s website.