Paris welcomed the pardon of Martin Ryan in Azerbaijan as a step toward normalizing relations
France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs issued an official statement welcoming the decision of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to pardon French citizen Martin Ryan, who had been in custody since December 2023.
In a statement published on September 23, the French foreign ministry described this step as a positive "humanitarian gesture" and the result of a thorough bilateral dialogue between Paris and Baku.
The French Foreign Ministry emphasized its intention to continue contacts with the Azerbaijani authorities, noting that Ryan's release marks an important step toward the normalization of relations between the two countries. The French side also expressed gratitude to the diplomatic teams in Paris and Baku who worked on resolving this issue.
As a reminder, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan, who had been convicted in Baku of espionage on behalf of France.
R. Martin's name is included in the decree of the head of state on the pardon of a number of individuals, published on the official website of the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, among whom there are several citizens of foreign countries.
Under the court's verdict, Martin Ryan was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.
According to the investigation, Martin Ryan received assignments to collect information about weapons and ammunition produced in Azerbaijan, the staffing of the army during the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020, military personnel and former servicemen who could be recruited for cooperation, persons who had studied in French abroad, foreign citizens and legal entities in Azerbaijan, as well as about the possibilities of arranging secret money transfers and issues of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and a number of countries.
He was arrested on December 4, 2023. According to the investigation, Ryan, who is the general director of Merkorama LLC, was recruited by officers of the French foreign intelligence service (DGSE) and used by them as an agent.
