Azerbaijan Pardons French National Martin Ryan After EU Sanctions Lift

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan pardoned French national Martin Ryan on September 23, 2026, releasing him from the Lankaran Penitentiary Complex. Ryan, the CEO of Merkorama LLC, had been detained since December 2023 and sentenced in March 2026 to 10 years in prison for espionage. He was convicted of gathering intelligence for France's General Directorate for External Security regarding Azerbaijani weaponry and international relations.

While the Azerbaijani presidential office stated the pardon was based on "principles of humanism" and part of a group of 20 pardons, reports indicate the release resulted from a compromise deal. In this agreement, the European Union lifted sanctions on Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman following pressure from Baku. France reportedly pushed for the sanctions lift to secure the release of its citizens, though Azerbaijan has denied using the billionaires as leverage. Another French national, Anass Derraz, remains in detention despite the agreement.

The Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France welcomed the decision as a humanitarian gesture and a step toward the normalization of relations. Conversely, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga condemned the EU's decision to lift the sanctions, arguing that the move grants Moscow a sense of impunity and humiliates the European Union.