Baku: Another court hearing has been held in the criminal case initiated at the State Security Service (SSS) against Martin Ryan, accused of espionage for France, and Azad Mammadli, charged with treason against the state, APA reports. In the trial held at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, chaired by Judge Elmin Rustamov, F.A., an employee of the Nizami District Housing Administration No. 28, testified as a witness.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the witness stated that he and his colleague participated as witnesses during the operation conducted by the State Security Service to detain Martin Ryan. On December 4, 2023, two individuals approached their office claiming to be SSS officers, informing them about operational-search measures to be conducted in an apartment within their jurisdiction. The witness and his colleague were invited to participate as attesting witnesses. They arrived at the apartment on Uzbekistan Street near the Gara Garayev metro station, where SSS officers presented a court decision authorizing a search to Martin Ryan, who was informed of the situation with the help of a female interpreter fluent in French.
The witness further explained that during the search, 2 laptops, 4 phones, documents and books in French, and numerous business cards were seized from the apartment. The entire process was documented on video, and all items were packed appropriately. After the review, a protocol was signed by Martin Ryan and the witnesses.
The next court hearing is scheduled for February 16. According to the indictment, there are substantial suspicions regarding Martin Ryan's involvement in obtaining sensitive information related to Azerbaijan's military and international relations. This includes activities aimed at obtaining information on weapons and ammunition produced in Azerbaijan, the staffing of the Azerbaijani Army during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, and more.
The accused persons were arrested on December 4, 2023. Charges were brought against Martin Ryan, the general director of 'Merkorama' LLC, under Article 276 (espionage) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The indictment alleges that Martin Ryan was used as an agent-spy by France's DGSE (General Directorate for External Security). In the same criminal case, Azerbaijani citizen Azad Mammadli faces charges under Article 274 (treason against the state) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.