Frenchman jailed for 10 years in Azerbaijan: ‘I’m not a spy’

A court in Azerbaijan has delivered a 10-year prison sentence to French national Martin Ryan, convicting him on charges of espionage against the state. The case, which dates back to his arrest in December 2023, concluded with a sentence one year less than the 11-year term prosecutors had sought. Ryan was accused of collaborating with employees of France's security services, allegedly operating from the French embassy in Baku, to collect sensitive information.

Prosecutors presented evidence claiming Ryan gathered intelligence on Azerbaijan's diplomatic and economic relations with key regional players, including Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan. The charges also specified that he collected information on companies linked to global powers Russia and China. The trial occurred against a backdrop of significantly strained relations between France and Azerbaijan, primarily due to Paris' political support for Armenia, Azerbaijan's long-standing rival.

The French citizen was tried jointly with Azerbaijani national Azad Mamedli, who was convicted on separate charges of high treason and received a 12-year sentence. The espionage case was initiated during a low point in bilateral relations, though diplomatic tensions have reportedly eased since. The verdict underscores the ongoing geopolitical friction in the South Caucasus region and the severe legal consequences for individuals caught in intelligence-gathering operations abroad.