French national's spying conviction upheld by Azerbaijan court

An Azerbaijani appeal court has upheld the 10-year sentence of a French national, Martin Ryan, for “espionage", in a case that arose against a backdrop of tensions between Paris and Baku. Issued on: 31/07/2026 - 22:39 1 min Reading time The trial of the businessman, who had been living in Azerbaijan for four years at the time of his arrest in December 2023, began in January 2025. On 16 March, Martin Ryan was found guilty of spying on behalf of Paris, charges that France has denied. Ryan denied this accusation, saying: "I did not spy. I am not a spy, and during the court case I tried to prove this." He stood trial alongside an alleged accomplice, Azad Mamedli, an Azerbaijani citizen who was charged with "high treason" and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The verdict was upheld on appeal, French news agency AFP learned from the court on Wednesday. Frenchman convicted for spying in Azerbaijan, sentenced to ten years According to the prosecution, Ryan was recruited by members of the French General Directorate for External Security (DGSE), who were working at the French Embassy in Baku. Those individuals were subsequently expelled. He is said to have been ordered to obtain information on relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Algeria and Somalia, as well as being told to photograph weapons supplied to Baku by Pakistan and obtain information on companies linked to Russia and China. Relations between France and Azerbaijan were strained following Baku’s recapture, in September 2023, of the then predominantly Armenian territory of Karabakh, which led to the displacement of more than 100,000 residents. Baku criticised Paris for its support of Armenia. (with AFP)