PARIS: France Azerbaijan normalisation has moved forward after Azerbaijan pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan, with Paris describing the decision as a step toward improving relations between the two countries.
The French Foreign Ministry said on September 23 that it welcomed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s decision to pardon Ryan, who had been detained in Azerbaijan since December 2023. France described the pardon as a humanitarian gesture and said the decision followed what it called a “patient and demanding dialogue” with Azerbaijani authorities.
Ryan’s release comes after a prolonged period of diplomatic tension between France and Azerbaijan. According to reporting, Ryan had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in Azerbaijan on espionage charges. France had challenged the proceedings and criticized the circumstances surrounding his case.
The French government said the dialogue with Azerbaijan would continue and described Ryan’s pardon as a step toward normalising bilateral relations. The statement suggests that Paris sees the development as part of a broader effort to reduce tensions between the two governments.
Relations between France and Azerbaijan have deteriorated sharply in recent years. France’s own foreign ministry says bilateral ties worsened following Azerbaijan’s military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh and France’s opposition to the use of force. Paris has also raised concerns over the detention of French nationals in Azerbaijan.
The latest development comes against a broader geopolitical backdrop involving the South Caucasus, the European Union and relations with Russia. France and other European countries have been engaged in diplomatic discussions involving Azerbaijan as regional relationships continue to change.
Ryan’s pardon also followed an EU decision concerning Russian-Uzbek businessman Alisher Usmanov. Reuters and other reports said the EU removed Usmanov and another Russian billionaire, Mikhail Fridman, from its Russia sanctions list while renewing broader sanctions against thousands of individuals and entities.
Euronews reported that Ryan’s release was connected to a wider diplomatic arrangement involving the removal of Usmanov from the EU sanctions list. France’s official statement, however, did not mention Usmanov and instead attributed the outcome to its dialogue with Azerbaijani authorities.
The pardon was signed by President Ilham Aliyev on September 23. Ryan had been held in Azerbaijan since December 2023 and was sentenced earlier in 2026. Following his release, he left Azerbaijan for France.
The case has become an important element in the relationship between Paris and Baku because it involves both consular issues and wider diplomatic tensions.
France has historically maintained close relations with Armenia, while Azerbaijan has criticized French policies toward the South Caucasus. These differing positions have contributed to strained relations between Paris and Baku.
The current diplomatic opening coincides with efforts to improve relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan following decades of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. France has traditionally supported Armenia, making its relationship with Azerbaijan particularly sensitive.
For France, the release of Ryan provides an opportunity to continue diplomatic engagement with Azerbaijan. For Baku, the pardon removes one prominent source of friction in bilateral relations.
The French Foreign Ministry thanked officials and teams in both countries who worked toward Ryan’s release. It said Paris intended to continue the dialogue with Azerbaijani authorities.
The France Azerbaijan normalisation process is still at an early stage, and the two governments continue to face disagreements over several issues. The pardon does not by itself resolve those disputes, but France has formally described it as a step toward normalising relations.
Further diplomatic contacts between Paris and Baku could determine whether the latest development leads to broader improvements in political and economic cooperation.
For now, the release of Martin Ryan represents a notable change after years of strained relations and provides both sides with an opening for continued dialogue.
