French citizen's trial in Baku reveals espionage links to Armenian intelligence

The trial of French citizen Martin Ryan, accused of espionage, and Azerbaijani national Azad Mammadli, charged with high treason, continued at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, where links to Armenian intelligence were revealed.

The session, which was open to the public, was attended by representatives of both local and foreign media, as well as embassy officials. Judge Elmin Rustamov presided over the proceedings, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

During his testimony, Martin Ryan explained that his first visit to Azerbaijan was in 2015 at the invitation of an acquaintance, Emin Suleymanov. He later decided to open a business in the country. Ryan also revealed that in 2015, he met members of the French embassy, including Frédéric Devos, who was involved in geopolitical studies, particularly focusing on issues related to Iran.

Ryan claimed that over time, Devos began asking probing questions about Azerbaijan's military capabilities, including inquiries about the Azerbaijani army's armament and the roles of Türkiye and Pakistan in the conflict. According to Ryan, he later realized that these questions were linked to Armenian intelligence.

The accused continued, stating that Devos had asked him to share videos, analyze the activities of Russian and Iranian businessmen in Azerbaijan, and introduce him to local citizens. Eventually, Ryan introduced Devos to Azad Mammadli, who was knowledgeable about Russia. After Devos left the embassy, Ryan claimed that Laurent Lodi took over his role and started requesting even more sensitive information.

Despite his involvement in these activities, Ryan maintained that he did not receive any compensation for his services. He explained that his ongoing relationship with French diplomats was motivated by his desire to strengthen his position within the Azerbaijani business community.

The trial has attracted considerable attention, particularly as it involves espionage charges against a French national. The next hearing is scheduled for April 14.

Ryan, the CEO of Mercorama LLC, was arrested on December 4, 2023, alongside several others. He faces charges of espionage, with allegations that he was used as a spy by the French Directorate General for External Security (DGSE). Following these events, French diplomats associated with the case were expelled from Azerbaijan as "persona non grata." Azad Mammadli, the Azerbaijani national, is also on trial for high treason in connection with the case.

By Vafa Guliyeva