Azerbaijan pardons Frenchman after EU lifts sanctions on Usmanov
After the EU lifted sanctions on Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned Frenchman Martin Ryan, who had been jailed on espionage charges. The move follows tense negotiations among EU states reportedly linked to a possible prisoner exchange.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday pardoned a total of 20 people, including Frenchman Martin Ryan, who had been held since 2023 on espionage charges. The pardon came the same day the European Union lifted sanctions on two Russian oligarchs, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. A statement from the president's office said the decision took into account the pardoned individuals' character, health conditions and family circumstances.
Tense talks in Brussels
EU member state representatives agreed on Tuesday to extend sanctions against thousands of Russian individuals and entities for three years, but removed Usmanov and Fridman from the list. According to the Financial Times, France unexpectedly joined Slovakia in early September in demanding Usmanov's removal from the sanctions list, reportedly in an attempt to secure a deal with Azerbaijan for the release of several French citizens. Luxembourg subsequently pushed for Fridman's sanctions to be lifted as well.
Latvia shifts position
The negotiations dragged on for two weeks and grew tense. On Monday evening, the EU decision-making process was halted due to Latvian objections, but by Tuesday afternoon Latvia had changed course to a constructive abstention, providing the unanimity required. EU ambassadors reached a compromise on Tuesday, and individual sanctions against Russia have now been extended for an unprecedented 36-month period.
