Frenchman jailed for 10 years in Azerbaijan: ‘I’m not a spy’

Azerbaijan on Monday sentenced a Frenchman to 10 years in prison in an espionage case launched during a period of diplomatic tensions between Paris and Baku that have now eased.Martin Ryan was arrested in December 2023 and went on trial in January last year, when relations between Azerbaijan and France had deteriorated to new lows over Paris’ support for Armenia, Baku’s long-time rival.The court found him guilty of spying against Azerbaijan and sentenced him to 10 years.Prosecutors had sought an 11-year prison sentence, accusing Ryan of cooperating with employees of France’s security services allegedly operating from the French embassy in Baku.They said he gathered information about Azerbaijan’s relations with Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, as well as about companies linked to Russia and China.Martin Ryan glances at photographers during his trial on spy charges in Baku on January 6,. Photo: AFPRyan was tried alongside Azerbaijani citizen Azad Mamedli, who was convicted of high treason and sentenced to 12 years behind bars.