Aliyev Pardons French Citizen Convicted of Espionage

Reform.news Editorial Team · 23 September 2026, 16:09

https://reform.news/en/aliyev-pardons-french-citizen-convicted-of-espionage/

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan on September 23. Ryan had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in an espionage case. In total, the decree released 20 people from the remainder of their sentences.

The document says the pardon decision was made taking into account the convicts’ personal circumstances, health, family status, the nature of the crimes committed, the time already served and their conduct while in custody. In addition to Ryan, 18 Azerbaijani citizens, as well as a Turkish citizen and a Pakistani citizen, were released from the remainder of their sentences. Another Azerbaijani citizen was released from the remainder of a sentence involving restriction of liberty.

Ryan was detained in December 2023 and convicted by the Baku Court of Grave Crimes on March 16, 2026. An Azerbaijani court found him guilty of espionage. The French national denied the charges, while French authorities demanded his release.

The pardon came after EU countries agreed to extend sanctions against about 3,000 Russian individuals and entities for another three years, while removing Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list.

France had pushed for Usmanov to be removed from the sanctions list, officially citing “national security” concerns. According to media reports, Paris’s position may have been linked to negotiations over the release of French citizens detained in Azerbaijan.