Azerbaijan pardons French prisoner amid disputed sanctions link
Martin Ryan’s release followed an EU decision to remove two Russian billionaires from its sanctions list, though no formal link between the decisions has been established.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French national Martin Ryan on Wednesday, among 20 people granted clemency. Ryan had been serving a ten-year sentence in Baku after being convicted of espionage in March.
Aliyev’s website said the pardons took account of personal circumstances, health, family situations and other reasons.
The decision came a day after the European Union agreed to extend sanctions on Russia while removing Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its blacklist.
A senior diplomat in Brussels told AFP that France had pushed for the sanctions change while seeking the release of French prisoners. Three European diplomats told Reuters that Paris had privately indicated Baku was using Usmanov to pressure France over two French citizens’ cases.
Baku rejected the allegation. The report does not establish that the EU decision caused Ryan’s pardon or was formally connected to it.
Ukraine criticised the removal of the asset freezes and visa bans. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha urged EU member states to impose national sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman.
