Azerbaijan pardons French national convicted of espionage
Martin Ryan had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in March; France had rejected the espionage allegations against him.

Azerbaijan's president has pardoned a French national who had been convicted of espionage in the country, according to a report by Anadolu Agency.
The French national, identified as Martin Ryan, had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in March, the report said, following a conviction on espionage-related charges in Azerbaijan.
France had rejected the allegations against Ryan, according to the report, though further detail on the French government's specific response or on the nature of the espionage charges brought against him in Azerbaijan was not provided.
The pardon comes against a backdrop of periodic tension between France and Azerbaijan in recent years, though the report did not link the decision explicitly to any broader diplomatic developments between the two countries.
It remains unclear from the available report when Ryan is expected to be released or return to France following the pardon, or whether any conditions have been attached to the decision by Azerbaijani authorities.
Sources
- Azerbaijani president pardons French national convicted of espionage — Anadolu Agency (Turkey)
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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