BAKU, March 16 (Xinhua) -- A Baku court on Monday sentenced a French national to 10 years in prison for espionage for France, according to Azerbaijan's Report News Agency.
Martin Ryan, general director of Merkorama LLC, was convicted under Azerbaijan's espionage statute at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes. His co-defendant, Azerbaijani citizen Azad Mammadli, received a 12-year sentence for treason. Both will serve their terms in a strict-regime facility. Ryan is to be deported upon release.
Authorities said Ryan was recruited by France's Directorate General for External Security to collect information on Azerbaijan's defense industry, military personnel, and the country's relations across multiple regions, as well as on foreign nationals and financial transfers.
The two were arrested by Azerbaijan's State Security Service on Dec. 4, 2023.
