A French national, Martin Ryan, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying on Azerbaijan's military. He was accused of gathering secret information and recruiting Azerbaijanis for French intelligence. Both Ryan and France denied the allegations. Ryan's trial coincided with that of Azerbaijani Azad Mamedli, who received a 12-year sentence for treason. Tensions between France and Azerbaijan have escalated, particularly regarding France's support for Armenia. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev criticized France for its actions in overseas territories, while diplomatic relations showed signs of improvement after a meeting between Aliyev and French President Macron.