The trial of a Frenchman accused of spying opened in Azerbaijan on Monday, as relations between Baku and Paris have deteriorated to new lows for months over France’s support to Armenia.

French national Martin Ryan was arrested in December 2023 on spy charges. Paris has denied the allegations and called for his immediate release.

Prosecutors accused Ryan of cooperating with employees of French security services who they said were based at the French embassy.

They accused him of gathering information on Baku’s relations with Turkey, Iran and Pakistan — as well as on companies linked to Russia and China.

Martin was put on trial along with an Azerbaijani citizen, Azad Mamedli, who has been accused of treason.

Ryan faces up to 15 years in prison, while Mamedli could be jailed for life.

Baku says Ryan lured Mamedli into spying and organised for him to meet French agents, who it alleges tasked him to recruit Azerbaijanis and Russians at a Moscow university where he studied.

In court, the Frenchman expressed regret and said he had acted unknowingly, according to an AFP reporter in the room.

Ryan’s lawyer has said his client also holds British nationality.

France and Ryan’s defence lawyers have insisted he is not part of French intelligence and that he is caught in the cross-fire of diplomatic tensions.

Another Frenchman — Theo Hugo Clerc — is also held by Azerbaijan, facing up to three years in prison for drawing graffiti in the Baku metro, in a case slammed by Paris.

France shunned the COP29 climate conference in Baku in November last year and has accused Azerbaijan of stoking tensions in France’s overseas territories and dependencies.

Azerbaijan is infuriated by France’s decision to provide weapons to Baku’s longtime foe Armenia, accusing Paris of escalating the conflict between the Caucasus countries.