• Nicolas Sarkozy released from prison after serving three weeks of a five-year sentence.
• The Paris appeals court placed him under strict judicial supervision pending appeal.
• Sarkozy denied all wrongdoing related to campaign funding from Libya.
• He is prohibited from contacting witnesses and leaving France.
• An appeals trial is anticipated for spring 2026.

On November 10, a Paris appeals court ordered the release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy from La Santé prison, where he had served nearly three weeks of a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy related to securing campaign funding from Libya. Sarkozy, who entered jail on October 21, described his experience as "gruelling" and "a nightmare" during the court proceedings conducted via video link, stating, "I had never imagined I would experience prison at 70" according to Le Monde, Los Angeles Times, and AA.

The court's ruling allows Sarkozy to be released under judicial supervision with multiple restrictions, including a ban on leaving French territory and prohibitions against contacting key witnesses and co-defendants in the Libyan case. This decision follows a recommendation from the public prosecutor’s office, which stated that Sarkozy does not pose a flight risk, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and CBS News.

In his statement to the court, Sarkozy reiterated his innocence regarding the criminal conspiracy charges, emphasizing, "I will never admit to something I didn't do." He referred to his imprisonment as an "ordeal" and thanked the prison staff for their support, according to Africa News, India Times, and BBC.

Sarkozy became the first former head of state in modern French history to be jailed and remains under formal investigation in other legal matters, including witness tampering and illegal campaign financing. His previous convictions include bribery and influence peddling regarding a separate case, which have further complicated his legal battles, as mentioned in reports from Le Monde and AA.