Overview
- An Azerbaijani court on March 16 convicted businessman Martin Ryan of spying and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
- Prosecutors said he gathered sensitive information on Azerbaijan’s military ties with Turkey, Iran and Pakistan and cooperated with alleged French security operatives based at the French embassy in Baku.
- Azerbaijani citizen Azad Mamedli, tried alongside Ryan, was convicted of high treason and received a 12‑year sentence, with authorities alleging Ryan recruited him and arranged meetings with purported French agents.
- In his final statement, Ryan denied being a spy and said his only mistake was maintaining contacts with some embassy employees without informing authorities.
- France disputes the accusations, says Ryan has no link to its intelligence services and is working to secure his release as contacts between President Emmanuel Macron and President Ilham Aliyev resume.