A new court hearing has been held in the criminal case conducted by the State Security Service (SSS) against Martin Ryan, who was arrested on charges of espionage for France, and Azad Mammadli, accused of treason.
According to Report, during the trial held at the Baku Court for Serious Crimes under the chairmanship of Judge Elmin Rustamov, the accused Martin Ryan stated that the case involved confidential cooperation and secret meetings:
"In the French language, the word 'confidential' is understood as 'secret.' During our secret meetings, Frédéric Devos, Laurent Lodi, and other employees of the French embassy were present. Azad Mammadli also participated in those meetings."
The judge then informed Martin Ryan that at this stage of the trial, his statements given during the preliminary investigation would be read aloud and he would be given the opportunity to comment on them.
After that, the statements given by the accused during the preliminary investigation were read out in court.
From Martin Ryan’s testimony at the SSS, it became known that Frédéric Devos met with Azad Mammadli and other individuals:
"During their meetings, they discussed the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the time, and the presence of Pakistani mercenaries. During his meetings with Azad Mammadli, Frédéric Devos asked for information about individuals studying at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), including his fellow students. Azad Mammadli provided Frédéric Devos with information about the students, explaining in detail. Later, Azad Mammadli also gave Frédéric Devos information about his Azerbaijani acquaintance A. Sh."
Later, statements explaining the photos found on the accused’s mobile phone were also read in court.
According to the statements, during a meeting at one of the restaurants in Baku, Martin Ryan explained the details of meetings held with Laurent Lodi and Laurent Grard—who had recently arrived in Azerbaijan at that time—as well as with their family members and other individuals.
According to his testimony, Azad Mammadli was also present at that meeting.
Martin Ryan stated in his testimony that the newly established Baku Francophonie Association was subordinate to the French Embassy in Azerbaijan:
“This organization was headed by Alexandra, the wife of Laurent Grard. Members of the association included Azerbaijanis. They organized events under the name of the association, presented as entertainment. However, these events were not actually entertaining in nature. During these gatherings, certain individuals were approached and secret conversations were conducted with them. The people conducting those talks were employees of the French intelligence services.”
The accused further stated that Laurent Lodi contacted him via WhatsApp and instructed him never to call from an open number:
“Laurent Lodi asked questions about the Azerbaijan-Armenia situation. Going beyond that, he also spoke about his time as a security officer at the French Embassy in Algeria. He told me about his connections with high-ranking Algerian officials, how they used to come to the embassy in civilian clothes, change into official attire once inside, and then conduct meetings.”
The defendant also mentioned that an Azerbaijani journalist once approached him with some questions:
“That interview coincided with the visit of Armenia’s Minister of Defense to France. I gave a video interview related to the visit. After the interview was published, I ran into Laurent Lodi in front of the French Embassy. He asked whether I had given the interview under pressure. I told him I had done it of my own will.”
Later during the hearing, phone conversations between Martin Ryan, Azad Mammadli, and employees of French intelligence operating under the name of the French Embassy were read aloud in court.
One of these conversations involved a discussion between Martin Ryan and Azad Mammadli regarding the Zangazur Corridor. It was revealed that they had discussed which country would take control of the corridor once it opened. According to the conversations, Azad Mammadli expressed that he preferred France’s armed forces to control the corridor, rather than the Russian Federation’s FSB.
Other conversations between Martin Ryan and Azad Mammadli related to Iran-Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan-Russia relations were also presented in court.
The judge stated that the reading of Martin Ryan’s preliminary investigation testimony had concluded and that discussion on those statements would be held in the next session.
The trial will continue on September 8.
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