The State Security Service of the Azerbaijan Republic is conducting the proceedings, with judge Elmin Rustamov presiding over the case, AzVision.az reports.
During the open court session attended by local and foreign media representatives and embassy staff, the rights of the accused were explained.
Martin Ryan has been provided with a defender and interpreter. The state prosecutor announced the indictment, revealing the charges against the accused.
According to the indictment, Martin Ryan is suspected of receiving tasks from French special services to gather sensitive information about Azerbaijan.
According to the indictment, there are reasonable suspicions that Martin Ryan received tasks and operated to obtain information about:
- Weapons and ammunition produced in Azerbaijan
- Azerbaijan army's equipment during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020
- Persons in active military service or reserves who could be contacted
- People educated in French abroad
- Foreign citizens and legal entities operating in Azerbaijan
- Possibilities of organizing secret money transfers to other countries through Azerbaijan under French intelligence orders
- Relations and military cooperation plans between Azerbaijan and Great Britain, Algeria, Türkiye, Pakistan, Iran, China, Somalia, Central Asian states
- Information about weapons imported to Azerbaijan
The accused Martin Ryan is also suspected of establishing targeted personal relationships with former embassy staff of some foreign countries in Azerbaijan and passing information to foreign intelligence services. The indictment states that Martin Ryan arranged meetings between Azad Mammadli and French intelligence officers at his rented house in Sabail district and at a local restaurant. Azad Mammadli was promised foreign citizenship in exchange for his services.
If proven guilty, both accused - Martin Ryan and Azad Mammadli - face 12-20 years imprisonment.
In the open court hearing, Martin Ryan declared himself partially guilty and stated that there is evidence to prove this.
The next court hearing is scheduled for February 19, where the accused will testify.
Martin Ryan was arrested on December 4, 2023. The CEO of Merkorama LLC was charged with espionage. According to charges, Martin Ryan was used as an agent-spy by French DGSE (General Directorate for External Security) officers who were later declared "persona non-grata" and expelled from Baku. Along with Martin Ryan, Azerbaijani citizen Azad Mammadli will be tried for treason. Following the exposure of this extensive spy network and operational failures, Bernard Emié, head of French DGSE, was dismissed from his position on December 20, 2023.
AzVision.az
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