Paris court releases ex-President Sarkozy from prison But he can’t leave France

The Paris Court of Appeal has approved a request from former French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s lawyers for his release from prison, BFMTV reported, citing the court’s decision.

Under the terms of judicial supervision, Sarkozy is prohibited from leaving French territory.

Sarkozy entered prison on October 21, after a Paris court sentenced him to five years for criminal conspiracy related to efforts to secure election campaign funds for his 2007 presidential race from the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Sarkozy, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, is the first former head of an EU country to serve time in prison, and the first French postwar leader to go behind bars.

By Khagan Isayev