Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev pardons a French citizen who was jailed in the country on espionage-related charges. The pardon comes about a day after the European Union lifts sanctions on Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov.
Several outlets report that the sequence is linked to European and diplomatic negotiations involving France. Bloomberg and other reports say Paris lobbies for Usmanov to be exempt from EU sanctions in exchange for the release or pardon of French prisoners held in Azerbaijan. The Financial Times reports that France’s approach blindsides some allies, framing it as part of a broader, possibly secret prisoner-release arrangement. France 24 also cites diplomats who describe pressure from Baku around the timing of the EU decision and the pardon.
Across the coverage, outlets agree on the main events and timing—the EU sanctions change, followed by the Frenchman’s pardon—but differ in emphasis. Some focus on France’s role in seeking the sanctions adjustment; others highlight Baku’s influence and the diplomatic pressure behind the shift.
