This statement came in response to criticism from the French ministry regarding the arrest of Martin Rian, a French citizen, as reported by local media.
On December 4, 2023, Rian was apprehended in Azerbaijan under suspicion of espionage, as outlined in Article 276 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code. Following his arrest, a court ordered a four-month pretrial detention. The Azerbaijani authorities assert that they have adhered to both national and international laws in their handling of Rian’s case. Since his detention, French consular officers have visited Rian multiple times and are fully informed about the situation.
Additionally, despite Azerbaijan’s request for the French Embassy in Azerbaijan to probe into Rian’s alleged collaboration with two of its employees, France has not provided any clarification or cooperated in the investigation. Consequently, Azerbaijan has declared these two embassy employees as persona non grata.
Hajizada emphasized Azerbaijan’s call for France to stop interfering in its internal matters and the ongoing criminal investigation related to this case.
