Azerbaijan Pardons French National Convicted of Spying
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has granted clemency to Martin Ryan, a French national who was serving a 10-year prison sentence on charges of spying. This decision was made on Wednesday, just a day after the European Union lifted sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, a move that some diplomats attribute to pressure from Baku.
Ryan was arrested in 2023 and sentenced in March. He was one of 20 individuals pardoned by Aliyev, which included citizens from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Israel, and Pakistan, according to reports from Reuters. The president's office stated that the pardons were based on various factors, including the individuals' personal circumstances and health.
The French government expressed relief at the decision to pardon Ryan, describing it as a humanitarian gesture. A statement from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that this outcome was the result of extensive dialogue with Azerbaijani authorities. However, it remains unclear whether Ryan has been released from custody.
Prosecutors had accused Ryan of gathering intelligence on Azerbaijan’s military connections with Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan, as well as on companies associated with Russia and China. Ryan, who also holds British citizenship, denied the allegations, which France has labeled as unfounded, arguing that he was caught in the crossfire of diplomatic tensions.
The lifting of sanctions on Usmanov and fellow billionaire Mikhail Fridman marked a significant shift, as it was the first instance of the EU removing sanctions on wealthy Russian individuals who had not publicly condemned the war in Ukraine. Usmanov, known for his previous minority stake in Arsenal football club, has personal ties to the leaders of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, having graduated from the same prestigious diplomatic school in Moscow.
Diplomatic Tensions Surrounding Pardons
European diplomats have indicated that France privately suggested Baku was leveraging Usmanov’s sanctions status to exert pressure regarding its detained citizens. Meanwhile, a second French national, Anass Derraz, who was sentenced to 12 years on corruption charges, was not included in the pardons.
An Azerbaijani diplomat dismissed claims of a pressure campaign as unfounded. The situation has drawn international attention, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commenting that the move reflects Russian efforts to undermine Western unity. His Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, criticized the EU's actions, suggesting that it has led to a sense of impunity for Russia and a division among European nations.
Cleared to File
Latvia has expressed its intention to impose its own sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman, with Foreign Minister Baiba Braze labeling the EU's decision as dangerous. Slovakia initially supported the removal of sanctions, with France later joining the call.
Relations between Azerbaijan and France have been historically strained due to France's support for Armenia, while ties between Baku and Moscow have also soured following a tragic incident in December 2024, when Russian forces accidentally shot down an Azerbaijani passenger jet.
