Aliyev pardoned the Frenchman after sanctions against Usmanov were lifted
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan, who had been sentenced in the country to 10 years in prison on espionage charges. The decision was made the day after the EU removed Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov from its sanctions list, and diplomats link these events to agreements regarding the release of French citizens.
On September 23, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev granted a pardon to French citizen Martin Ryan. The Frenchman had been imprisoned in Azerbaijan after being sentenced to 10 years on espionage charges. Ryan was among 20 people whom Aliyev pardoned by decree. The presidential administration attributed the decision to the personal circumstances of the convicts, specifically their health and family situations.
The pardon came a day after an important decision by the European Union. On September 22, the EU agreed to remove Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov from its sanctions list. Another Russian businessman, Mikhail Friedman, was also removed from the list. At the same time, sanctions against approximately 3,000 Russian citizens, companies, and organizations were extended for another three years.
What Connects Usmanov and the French Prisoner
This is where the most unusual part of this story comes in. According to diplomats interviewed by Reuters and Euronews, France sought Usmanov’s removal from the EU sanctions list as part of an agreement to secure the release of French citizens being held in Azerbaijan.
Euronews reported on an unofficial agreement under which the lifting of sanctions against Usmanov was supposed to pave the way for the release of two French nationals in Azerbaijan. As part of this agreement, Aliyev was to pardon the prisoners. Following the EU’s decision, Martin Ryan was indeed among those pardoned.
At the same time, it is important to note that France did not officially confirm the existence of such an agreement. French officials explained their position on the grounds of national security and did not disclose details of the negotiations. Azerbaijan also denied that it had been pressured in connection with this case. Therefore, a direct “sanctions-for-release” exchange remains a report from diplomatic sources rather than an officially confirmed agreement.
Why Was Martin Ryan Imprisoned?
Martin Ryan was detained in Azerbaijan in late 2023. Azerbaijani authorities accused him of espionage. According to the investigation, he allegedly gathered information about military facilities and passed on classified information to French authorities.
In March 2026, a court sentenced Ryan to 10 years in prison. In July, an appeals court upheld the sentence. Ryan himself and the French authorities denied the charges. His case unfolded against the backdrop of a sharp deterioration in relations between Paris and Baku. French authorities even advise citizens not to travel to Azerbaijan due to the risk of arrests, detentions, and potential violations of fundamental rights.
Why the EU Lifted Sanctions Against Usmanov
Alisher Usmanov had been subject to EU sanctions since the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The EU imposed restrictions against him, including an asset freeze and a travel ban. Usmanov himself denied the grounds for the sanctions and challenged them.
On September 22, EU countries agreed to extend personal sanctions against approximately 3,000 individuals, companies, and organizations linked to Russia. However, as part of this decision, Usmanov and Friedman were removed from the list. At the same time, the sanctions regime was extended immediately for 36 months—until September 2029. Previously, such restrictions were typically reviewed every six months.
France Insisted on Usmanov’s Removal
The issue of Usmanov became one of the most difficult during the EU countries’ negotiations. According to Euronews, France actively sought his removal from the list. Diplomats linked Paris’s position specifically to the issue of French nationals held in Azerbaijan.
Initially, Latvia opposed this decision. The country urged that pressure on Russia not be eased while the war against Ukraine continues. Ultimately, Latvia abstained, allowing EU countries to reach a compromise. Following this, Usmanov and Friedman were removed from the sanctions list, while the remaining restrictions were extended for three years.
What is known about other French nationals in Azerbaijan
Martin Ryan is not the only French citizen who has ended up in prison in Azerbaijan. Euronews also reported on the Frenchman Anass Derraz, whom an Azerbaijani court sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was accused of accepting a bribe in a case involving a detained yacht.
The presence of several French citizens in Azerbaijani prisons was one of the factors mentioned by diplomats during negotiations regarding the Usmanov sanctions. It is not yet clear whether the other French nationals will be pardoned. There is also no official confirmation of the diplomatic agreement described between France and Azerbaijan.
As a result, two facts are currently known: on September 22, the EU removed Usmanov from its sanctions list, and the following day, the President of Azerbaijan pardoned Martin Ryan, who was serving a 10-year sentence on espionage charges. Diplomats link these decisions, but neither Paris nor Baku has confirmed that they were part of a formal agreement.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga criticized the EU’s decision to remove Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Friedman from the sanctions list. He called the decision shameful and urged EU countries to impose their own national sanctions against them.
