Story perspectives

Aliyev Pardons French Spy Martin Ryan in Baku

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 2:32 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan in Baku on September 23, 2026.
Diplomats said the pardon was linked to the EU’s removal of sanctions on Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov.
Martin Ryan was sentenced in March 2024 to ten years for espionage on Azerbaijan’s military cooperation with Turkey and Pakistan.
Ukraine’s foreign minister condemned the EU’s delisting of Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman as shameful and unjustifiable.

History

Historical Context

The EU first targeted Russian officials in March 2014, freezing assets and issuing travel bans on dozens of individuals—including 15 on 28 April 2014—after Crimea’s annexation. Subsequent renewals, such as the six-month extension to 31 January 2025, have turned sanctions into a diplomatic lever, shaping recent negotiations between Moscow, Brussels and other partners.

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Story summary

President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan in Baku on September 23, 2026.
Diplomats said the pardon was linked to the EU’s removal of sanctions on Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov.
Martin Ryan was sentenced in March 2024 to ten years for espionage on Azerbaijan’s military cooperation with Turkey and Pakistan.
Ukraine’s foreign minister condemned the EU’s delisting of Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman as shameful and unjustifiable.

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