In short
- Martin Ryan was sentenced to 10 years in prison in March for espionage.
- The EU extended restrictions on about 3,000 individuals and entities for three years.
What happened
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan issued a decree pardoning 20 prisoners, including Martin Ryan, a French citizen convicted of espionage. Ryan was arrested in late 2023 and sentenced in March to 10 years in prison.
The pardons came after France lobbied for Alisher Usmanov's removal from the EU sanctions list. The EU Council also lifted sanctions against Mikhail Fridman, while extending travel bans and asset freezes on roughly 3,000 other individuals and entities for three years.
The E.U. Council announced Tuesday that it had also lifted sanctions against Mikhail Fridman, a Russia-connected businessman, while extending restrictions—including travel bans and asset freezes—on roughly 3,000 other individuals and entities for three years in response to the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
In numbers
- 20 prisoners pardoned by Azerbaijan
- 10 years Martin Ryan's prison sentence
- 3,000 individuals and entities with extended EU restrictions
What compliance teams should check
- Review the EU Council's updated sanctions list for changes affecting Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
- Update internal screening for Martin Ryan and other pardoned individuals under Aliyev’s decree.
- Monitor ongoing EU restrictions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on the approximately 3,000 listed individuals and entities.
Why it matters
This story highlights shifting international sanctions and diplomatic negotiations that can impact compliance screening. The EU’s removal of Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, while extending restrictions on about 3,000 others, requires compliance officers to promptly update their screening systems. The pardoning of Martin Ryan and other prisoners in Azerbaijan, following diplomatic lobbying, underscores the importance of monitoring political developments that may affect risk profiles and regulatory obligations.
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