Azerbaijan Grants Pardon to Frenchman Following EU Sanctions Relief

WHO:

BBC News - Martin Ryan, a Frenchman, was pardoned by Azerbaijan.

WHAT:

BBC News - Martin Ryan was pardoned months after being jailed on charges of spying.

BBC News - A second Frenchman remains in prison.

WHERE:

BBC News - The event took place in Azerbaijan.

WHEN:

BBC News - The pardon occurred after the EU lifted sanctions on a Russian billionaire.

WHY:

BBC News - The pardon was granted following the lifting of EU sanctions.

HOW:

BBC News - The specific mechanisms of the pardon process were not detailed in the article.

(UPDATED September 24, 2026 04:00 UTC)

In a significant development, Martin Ryan, a Frenchman, has been pardoned by Azerbaijan after being jailed on charges of spying. This pardon comes just months after his imprisonment and follows the recent lifting of EU sanctions on a Russian billionaire, although the details of the pardon process remain unclear. It's important to note that another Frenchman is still in prison.