# Azerbaijan pardons French national after EU drops sanctions on Usmanov

https://mins.news/en/item/70380

- Reuters, 2026-09-23 10:05 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/azerbaijan-pardons-french-national-after-eu-drops-sanctions-usmanov-2026-09-23/?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=6ab3a450f43c0f0001de9863

> Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned a French national jailed for espionage on Wednesday. The move came a day after the EU lifted sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, following what diplomats described as pressure from Baku.

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