French citizen Martin Ryan went on trial in Azerbaijan on spying charges that the judge said could lead to a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years.
French citizen Martin Ryan went on trial in Azerbaijan on spying charges that the judge said could lead to a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years.
He and his co-defendant, Azad Mammadli was arrested in December 2023, of collecting secret information and helping to recruit French-speaking Azerbaijanis to cooperate with French intelligence. Ryan told the court he pleaded "partially guilty".
The trial of Martin Ryan, arrested on charges of espionage for the French intelligence services as part of a criminal case initiated by the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has commenced. Martin Ryan and his co-defendant, Azad Mammadli, were detained on 4 December 2023.
Ryan, the CEO of Mercorama LLC, faces espionage charges, with the indictment saying that that he was recruited as an intelligence operative by the French General Directorate of External Security (DGSE). Late December 2023, the two employees of the French embassy in Baku were declared personae non gratae and subsequently expelled from the country.
Azad Mammadli, a citizen of Azerbaijan, is being tried alongside Ryan on charges of high treason.
During the proceedings at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Elmin Rustamov, Martin Ryan was provided with an interpreter and legal counsel. On the judge’s order, he was removed from the glass enclosure and seated next to his interpreter. Representatives from the French and British embassies were also present in the courtroom.
The judge opened the trial by explaining the rights and obligations of the defendants. Subsequently, the court reviewed the personal details of the accused.
Martin Ryan, a dual citizen of France and the United Kingdom, has been formally charged with espionage under Article 274 and that of 276. While he has partially pleaded guilty, the charges against him remain under review. Professionally, Ryan was involved in business in Azerbaijan, importing wine into the country. The court confirmed that he holds both French and British citizenship.
The personal details of Azad Mammadli were similarly examined. Mammadli had worked as a lawyer at the International Bank of Azerbaijan from 2019 to 2023 before relocating to the United Kingdom to pursue further professional opportunities. He was arrested two months after his return to Azerbaijan.
At the conclusion of the session, it was decided the trial will resume on 19 February to allow for the systematic and orderly examination of evidence.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on May 25, reaffirming Baku’s continued humanitarian support and both nations’ mutual commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Azerbaijan’s leadership as COP29 President was praised during high-level meetings in Mexico, where the two countries discussed climate diplomacy and the expansion of bilateral ties.
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
An exhibition of Azerbaijani and Turkmen carpets and handicrafts has opened in Tbilisi, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and centuries-old weaving traditions of both nations.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will begin a six-day visit of Türkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, where he is also set to attend the International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe.
Poland’s ruling party is set to hold a "patriotic march" in Warsaw on Sunday, just days before the second round of the presidential elections featuring candidate Rafal Trzaskowski.
The Netherlands will complete its pledge of 24 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine on Monday, as the final aircraft is set for delivery, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced on Sunday.
Ukraine and Russia finalized a major prisoner exchange, with 303 captives returned to Ukraine on Sunday as part of a broader swap of 1,000 detainees each, agreed upon during talks in Istanbul.
Texas is poised to become the second U.S. state to implement a sweeping ban on social media use by minors, joining a growing movement among states to regulate digital access for children amid rising concerns over mental health and online safety.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on May 25, reaffirming Baku’s continued humanitarian support and both nations’ mutual commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
Kyiv faced a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault overnight, with explosions and gunfire echoing throughout the city, forcing residents to shelter in subway stations.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on May 25, reaffirming Baku’s continued humanitarian support and both nations’ mutual commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov has signed a law ratifying the 2025 Financing Framework Agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), paving the way for nearly $222 million in funding for national development projects.
S&P Global Ratings has revised Uzbekistan’s outlook to positive from stable, affirming its 'BB-/B' ratings. The change reflects steady economic reforms, resilient growth, and support from high gold prices, which are helping stabilize the country’s fiscal and external positions.
Azerbaijan’s leadership as COP29 President was praised during high-level meetings in Mexico, where the two countries discussed climate diplomacy and the expansion of bilateral ties.
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
Poland’s ruling party is set to hold a "patriotic march" in Warsaw on Sunday, just days before the second round of the presidential elections featuring candidate Rafal Trzaskowski.
The Netherlands will complete its pledge of 24 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine on Monday, as the final aircraft is set for delivery, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced on Sunday.
Ukraine and Russia finalized a major prisoner exchange, with 303 captives returned to Ukraine on Sunday as part of a broader swap of 1,000 detainees each, agreed upon during talks in Istanbul.
Texas is poised to become the second U.S. state to implement a sweeping ban on social media use by minors, joining a growing movement among states to regulate digital access for children amid rising concerns over mental health and online safety.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on May 25, reaffirming Baku’s continued humanitarian support and both nations’ mutual commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment