Martin Ryan's sentence in espionage case left unchanged
The Baku Court of Appeal upheld the sentence of Martin Ryan, accused of espionage in favor of France, and Azad Mamedli, accused of treason.
As reported by Report, the decision was announced at a hearing chaired by Judge Murad Mamedov.
The defense's appeal was left unsatisfied, and the verdict of the Baku Court for Grave Crimes was upheld.
According to the court verdict, Martin Ryan was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Azad Mamedli to 12 years.
According to the investigation, Martin Ryan received assignments to collect information on weapons and ammunition produced in Azerbaijan, army staffing during the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020, military personnel and former servicemen who could be recruited for cooperation, persons who studied French abroad, foreign citizens and legal entities in Azerbaijan, as well as on the possibilities of organizing secret money transfers and issues of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and a number of countries.
It is also noted that Ryan organized a meeting between Azad Mamedli and French intelligence officers in Baku, and Mamedli was promised foreign citizenship in exchange for cooperation. The accused were arrested on December 4, 2023. According to the investigation, Ryan, who is the general director of LLC Merkorama, was recruited by officers of the French foreign intelligence service (DGSE) and used by them as an agent. Subsequently, the DGSE officers were expelled from Baku as persona non grata.
Ryan was charged under Article 276 (espionage) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Mamedli under Article 274 (treason) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
