Azerbaijan starts trial of Frenchman accused of spying

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.  
 

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