Trial of Frenchman accused of espionage opens in Azerbaijan

RFI

7 January 2025 at 6:36 am·1-min read

French national Martin Ryan, accused of espionage, attends a court hearing in Baku, Azerbaijan on 6 January, 2025.

The trial of a Frenchman accused of espionage as begun in Azerbaijan on Monday, as relations between Baku and Paris have deteriorated for months, largely due to France's support for Armenia.

French national Martin Ryan was arrested in Azerbaijan in December 2023 on spy charges.

Prosecutors accused Ryan of cooperating with employees of French security services who they said were based at the French embassy.

They accused him of gathering information on Baku's relations with Turkey, Iran and Pakistan - as well as on companies linked to Russia and China.

Martin was put on trial along with an Azerbaijani citizen, Azad Mamedli, who has been accused of treason.

Frenchman arrested in Azerbaijan for 'espionage'

Ryan faces up to 15 years in prison, while Mamedli could be jailed for life.

Baku says Ryan lured Mamedli into spying and organised for him to meet French agents, who it alleges tasked him to recruit Azerbaijanis and Russians at a Moscow university where he studied.

Paris has denied the allegations and called for his immediate release.

Diplomatic tensions

In court, the Frenchman expressed regret and said he had acted unknowingly, according to French news agency AFP.

Ryan's lawyer has said his client also holds British nationality.

France and Ryan's defence lawyers have insisted he is not part of French intelligence and that he is caught in the cross-fire of diplomatic tensions.

(with AFP)

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