# Azerbaijan pardons jailed Frenchman after EU lifts sanctions on Russian oligarch

https://mins.news/en/item/70190

- France 24, 2026-09-23 07:53 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260923-azerbaijan-pardons-jailed-frenchman-after-eu-lifts-sanctions-on-russian-oligarchs

> Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned a French national jailed for espionage on Wednesday, a day after the EU lifted sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. Diplomats said the move followed pressure from Baku.

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