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.
A Russian court on Thursday imposed restrictions on Lida Moniava, the founder of a children’s hospice, who is accused of spreading false info...
China’s state-owned shipping giant COSCO has used concealed equipment aboard some of its vessels to colle...
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that would block federal funding for universities that...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he thinks there is a chance of a peace being reached with Ukraine. He told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia that he believed there was "a chance of finding a solution," to the conflict.
The U.S. has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites as Tehran retaliated against U.S. positions across the region, while Iranian officials said at least five people were killed and dozens wounded at a wedding near Sirik.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August and 2 September.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas says the bloc will tighten enforcement of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. EU foreign ministers were meeting in Ireland following renewed Russian strikes on cities across Ukraine.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 3rd of September, covering the latest developments.
The Iranian Army has again struck at U.S. bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for U.S. attacks on southern and western parts of Iran late on Tuesday, which reportedly killed 18 people and injured more than 100 others.
Georgia's economy grew by eight per cent in July, and if you're wondering what's behind the surge, the answer is the same one that's been doing the heavy lifting all year: oil.
Russia’s Rosatom and Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants have signed a contract to build two units at the Balkhash nuclear power plant, with a combined capacity of 2.4 gigawatts.
The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine has called on churches around the world to intervene after teachers and school staff from the West Bank were prevented from reaching Christian schools in Jerusalem.
Israel is ready to move Palestinians from Gaza as soon as the U.S. approves, the country’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has said. He told a conference hosted by Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday that there was “no real solution” for Gaza without migration.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment