Azerbaijan has pardoned a French citizen imprisoned since late 2023 on espionage charges, RFI announced on September 23, 2026.
This release came just hours after the European Union lifted sanctions against oligarch Alisher Usmanov, a decision requested by France.
Officially, Paris denies a direct link between the pardon granted to the Frenchman and the lifting of sanctions against Usmanov, who is considered close to Vladimir Putin and his Azerbaijani counterpart.
However, France acknowledged having exerted pressure in Brussels, citing “national security” imperatives to support the lifting of sanctions against the oligarch.