In addition to Frenchman Martin Ryan, Azerbaijan has released four other foreigners – France24

The President of Azerbaijan signed a decree releasing a total of five foreign nationals, including French citizen Martin Ryan. In addition to him, one Russian citizen, one Pakistani citizen, and two Turkish citizens were released.

Meanwhile, another French citizen—businessman Anass Derraz—remains in prison in Baku; he was sentenced in November 2025 to 12 years in prison on charges of accepting a bribe from a Russian oligarch. 

Bilateral relations between France and Azerbaijan have deteriorated significantly since Baku regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, which led to the departure of more than 100,000 local residents. France actively supported during the cong

Source: france24.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev 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.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga 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.