Azerbaijan delays trial of French citizens accused of spying Investigation underway

The trial of Martin Ryan, a French citizen detained in Azerbaijan on charges of espionage since December 2023, has been postponed for four months due to the extension of the investigation, L'Orient-Le Jour reports, citing the website of the French agency AFP.

The trial, which was scheduled to take place on April 4 in Baku, has been delayed.

Martin Ryan's lawyer, Nizami Aliyev, was informed on March 31 that the investigation has been extended and the trial postponed. Richard Ryan, Martin's father, confirmed this information.

On December 4, 2023, Martin Ryan was arrested on suspicion of espionage in Azerbaijan. A court decision authorized his detention, which was also notified to the French Embassy in Baku. Richard Ryan told AFP that the family had been able to speak to him by phone.

In a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron dated January 23, Richard Ryan confirmed that the two diplomats his son had been in contact with were agents of the French services, which was also confirmed by Baku. Richard Ryan told AFP that his son insists that the DGSE officers who compromised him without his knowledge are guilty.