Azerbaijan Releases French National Following EU Sanctions Lift on Russian Billionaires
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has pardoned Frenchman Martin Ryan, allowing his release from prison on espionage charges. This decision follows the EU’s recent lifting of sanctions on Russian billionaires, which has provoked a backlash from Ukraine. Ryan, who denied the spying allegations, was one of 20 individuals pardoned, while another Frenchman remains jailed on bribery charges. The EU’s sanctions relief has raised concerns about its implications amid ongoing tensions with Russia.