Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
France 24
France 24
Politics
FRANCE 24

Azerbaijan pardons jailed Frenchman after EU lifts sanctions on Russian billionaires

Alisher Usmanov Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijan Baku Martin Ryan Espionage Prison
Azerbaijan' president Ilham Aliyev attends a news conference after a meeting with German chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
File photo of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev taken at a news conference in Berlin, Germany on July 21, 2026. © Ebrahim Noroozi, AP

Azerbaijan's President ​Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday pardoned a ​French national imprisoned for espionage a day ​after ‌the ⁠EU lifted sanctions on two Russian billionaires.

French national ​Martin Ryan was pardoned by Azerbaijan's President ​Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday, one day after the ⁠EU lifted sanctions on two Russian billionaires following what ⁠diplomats said was pressure from Baku.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
What’s Actually Made Fresh at the Grocery Store Bakery? The Answer May Surprise You
The smell of warm bread and cookies can make the grocery store bakery one of the hardest sections to walk past without buying something. Rows of golden rolls, frosted cupcakes, and fresh-looking pastries create the impression that bakers prepared everything that morning. Sometimes, that is true, but many supermarket bakeries…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Cyndi Lauper defends working with Nicki Minaj despite rapper’s support for Trump
Rapper has become one of the president’s most famous supporters
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Doctors Were the Butt of 40% of Facebook Doctor Jokes, but the Most-Liked One Skewered a Lawyer
Researchers combed 30,075 Facebook posts for doctor jokes. Physicians were the usual target, but the most-liked punchline hit a lawyer.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
Fridge or not? What’s the best way to store bread?
Our experts have some airtight advice to stop your loaf from going stale
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Not enjoying being a parent? You’re not alone. Here’s how to handle this complicated feeling
We’re often told parenting is one of the most rewarding things we’ll ever do. But as many parents will attest, it is also full of very difficult moments. And sometimes these moments seem almost constant.
The Conversation
The Conversation
A warm, sumptuous tale of two Coppolas
As "Marie Antoinette" turns 20, Eleanor and Sofia Coppola's documentary reveals new resonance
Salon
Salon
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play