Azerbaijan pardons French national convicted of espionage

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has pardoned French national Martin Ryan, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage earlier this year, local media reported.

Ryan was among several people pardoned under a presidential decree, according to the APA news agency. He was convicted in March by the Baku Court on Grave Crimes.

Presidential decree cites personal circumstances

The decree said the pardon was issued after taking into account the convicts’ “personalities, health and family circumstances”, among other considerations.

In a statement issued in July, France’s Foreign Ministry condemned Ryan’s sentence, rejected the allegations against him and demanded his immediate release.