Azerbaijan pardons Frenchman after EU lifts sanctions on Russian billionaire

The metals and mining billionaire denied this characterisation of him. He has also been sanctioned by the UK and US governments.Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha bitterly criticised the EU decision to lift sanctions on the two men, complaining that Moscow was "celebrating, because it got what it wanted: a sense of impunity, the humiliation of the EU, and division among Europeans".Latvia had initially opposed the move, but decided to abstain, announcing instead that it would impose its own measures on the two men.Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said it was "dangerous and sends completely the wrong signal at a time when Russia's behaviour is becoming more aggressive". Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said later that France's President Emmanuel Macron had agreed to start talks on Latvia's "accession to the French nuclear deterrence initiative". French relations with Azerbaijan have been poor in recent years, largely because of France's close relations with neighbouring Armenia. However, in May, Macron discussed developing ties with Aliyev, who later spoke of a "new era" in their relations.Under Aliyev's decree on Wednesday, Ryan is one of 20 people including Azerbaijanis and Turks given a pardon.Detained in December 2023, he was handed a 10-year jail term last March for espionage, charges denied by the French government.Prosecutors alleged he had co-operated with employees of France's security services in Baku and gathered information about Azerbaijan's relations with Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, as well as companies linked to Russia and China.