• Azerbaijan has pardoned French national Martin Ryan, imprisoned for espionage.
• The pardon follows the EU's decision to lift sanctions on Russian billionaires.
• Relations between Azerbaijan and France have been strained due to support for Armenia.
• A second Frenchman, Anass Derraz, remains imprisoned in Azerbaijan.
• The EU decision has sparked criticism from Ukraine and raised concerns among member states.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has pardoned French national Martin Ryan, who was serving a 10-year prison sentence on charges of espionage. This decision was made shortly after the European Union lifted sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, a move reportedly influenced by diplomatic pressure from Azerbaijan, according to Le Monde, Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

Ryan, arrested in December 2023 and sentenced in March 2024, has consistently denied the espionage charges, claiming he was wrongfully accused. His release is part of a broader pardon affecting 20 individuals, including Azerbaijani, Turkish, Russian-Israeli, and Pakistani nationals. However, the absence of a clear release announcement creates uncertainty about his current status, as reported by Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

The EU's decision to lift sanctions on Usmanov and fellow billionaire Mikhail Fridman has sparked considerable backlash. Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, condemned the move as fostering a sense of impunity for Russia, claiming it reflects a troubling division among EU member states. These sentiments are echoed in criticisms from Romania and Latvia, who were initially opposed but later abstained from the vote, according to Le Monde, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

Relations between Azerbaijan and France have been complex, primarily due to France's historical support for Armenia, Baku's rival. This latest development reflects a potential thaw in relations, with French officials indicating that Ryan's pardon is a humanitarian gesture resulting from extensive dialogue with Azerbaijani authorities. Meanwhile, another French citizen, Anass Derraz, remains imprisoned on corruption charges, as highlighted in reports from Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera.