Azerbaijan pardons French national as part of secret prisoner release deal
- Posted on September 23, 2026
- By Financial Times
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Azerbaijan has granted a pardon to a French citizen as part of a confidential prisoner exchange arrangement. The diplomatic initiative revealed France's controversial negotiating stance, as Paris reportedly advocated for exempting a Russian oligarch from European Union sanctions during negotiations with Baku. This strategic maneuver has raised questions among Western allies regarding France's approach to sanctions enforcement and its bilateral relations within the Caucasus region.
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Azerbaijan pardons French national as part of secret prisoner release deal
Paris blindsided allies when it pushed for Russian oligarch to be exempt from EU sanctions as part of its deal with Baku
