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Spy trial defendants in France espionage case blame each other in court

19 May 2025 19:14 (UTC +04:00)

Another hearing was held in the case of Martin Ryan and Azad Mammadli, who are accused of spying for France in a criminal investigation launched by the State Security Service (SSS), APA reports.

At today’s session in the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Elmin Rustamov, defendant Azad Mammadli testified.

I suspected them but didn’t know they were spies

He stated that it was Martin Ryan who introduced him to Laurent Lody: “Martin told me that Laurent had also studied at the same university in Moscow where I studied. Both Laurent Lody and Frédéric Devos were introduced to me by Martin. He presented both of them as employees of the French Embassy. Martin also lured Azerbaijanis into traps based on their instructions. During my meeting with Laurent Lody, he asked me questions about Russia and wanted me to use my contacts to obtain information and pass it on to them. However, I refused them. I had considered Martin close to me. But I turned them down because their questions raised suspicions. I regret not reporting what happened. I thought the matter was closed after I refused them. They also asked me questions about the Eurasian Economic Forum held in Bishkek. Since it had nothing to do with Azerbaijan, I disregarded it. Although I was suspicious of them, I did not know they were spies. When they asked about my future plans, I shared them with them.”

Martin introduced Laurent to me as a former police officer

Azad Mammadli stated that he saw Laurent at an event in February 2023:

“Martin introduced Laurent to me as a former police officer. He said that Laurent was responsible for the security of the French Embassy. They knew I had studied in Russia and, because of my connections, they offered to cooperate. I did not give them any written or verbal information. I only shared my subjective opinions. There was only one correspondence between me and Devos, during which I sent him my CV. There was no other exchange of letters or opinions between us.”

Martin Ryan’s lawyer asked Azad Mammadli why an employee of the French Embassy gave him a book related to the United Kingdom.

Azad Mammadli said the book was about tourism:

“They knew I was going to the United Kingdom. The book was given for that reason. There’s no need to look for another explanation. I had no other connection with the embassy. I did not receive anything from the embassy. In the next stage, I will substantiate how your client Martin Ryan worked for the French Embassy and French intelligence services, and how he received tens of thousands of manats.
After getting acquainted with Martin, I went to the United Kingdom. I lived there for a year and a half and then returned. I met with Martin, we had breakfast together, and then went to ‘Targovy’. There, we ran into Frédéric Devos. During the investigation, I realized these were not coincidences. Everything had been planned from the beginning.”

They needed someone who knew Russia well and had strong connections there

Later, Martin Ryan objected to Azad Mammadli’s statement.

He said that he had not introduced Azad to the French intelligence services: “They needed someone who knew Russia well and had strong connections there. At that time, Azad was also looking for a job and wanted it to be with a French company. Since I knew both parties, I wanted to help them. I arranged their meetings. These meetings took place both at my home and at an event — I admit this. Azad Mammadli also said that he did not receive any funds and did not cooperate. There are voice recordings about this. They should be listened to. From those recordings, it is clear that Azad Mammadli knew they were intelligence officers and asked questions about how much payment he would receive in exchange for work. Azad is my friend. I warned him that this work was dangerous. He told me he was aware of that. I consider myself guilty in this matter.”

Azad Mammadli responded by saying that these claims are untrue: “This is a lie. Martin himself carried out several tasks during the 44-day Patriotic War. This is also present in the investigation materials. He received and fulfilled military-related assignments and passed on information. He has admitted to this himself. Martin trapped at least nine Azerbaijanis. I was the tenth, and I rejected him. He also transmitted information about a businessman named Ilgar, a former military officer, and individuals with whom they had established friendly relations. He carried out around 50 military-related tasks. I used the 'Signal' app only because Laurent used it for that connection. Martin claims I demanded payment. That is not true. I neither received any payment nor carried out any assignments. Additionally, his wine business and chess teaching were cover activities. He was not funded directly by the embassy or the intelligence services but through indirect means.”

The trial will continue on June 23.

Note that the accused individuals were arrested on December 4, 2023. Martin Ryan, who was the general director of “Merkorama” LLC, has been charged under Article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (espionage) by the State Security Service (SSS).

According to the charges, Martin Ryan was used as an agent-spy by members of France’s DGSE (General Directorate for External Security), who had previously recruited him for covert collaboration and were later declared persona non grata and expelled from Baku. Under the same criminal case, Azerbaijani citizen Azad Mammadli has been charged under Article 274 (high treason) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.