Details emerge about those detained in case of French spies in Azerbaijan

Leading French media have been actively discussing the French spy network exposed in Azerbaijan in recent days.

According to Report, Observer Online published new details about those detained in the case of French spies in Azerbaijan.

According to the publication, along with Martin Ryan, who was detained in early December 2023, Azerbaijani citizen A. Mammadli was detained, who, in exchange for French citizenship, was collecting and transmitting information to French intelligence officers.

Mammadli, at the direction of the French intelligence services, opened correspondent accounts for the French conglomerate Societe Generale in Azerbaijani banks and was involved in the development of interbank agreements.

"As is known, one of the persons arrested by the Azerbaijani security forces is A. Mammadli, an Azerbaijani citizen who collaborated with intelligence officers working in the French diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan. He is accused of establishing extensive secret connections with French citizen Martin Ryan and participating in collection and transfer of necessary information about the region in exchange for the provision of French citizenship and financial reward. The respective correspondence began to serve not the interests, but to the detriment of France. It also came out that, on the instructions of intelligence officers, both individuals established connections with various employees of the French financial conglomerate Societe Generale, one of the largest banking networks in the world. A. Mammadli participated in the opening of Societe Generale correspondent accounts in Azerbaijani banks and the development of interbank agreements on other issues. The reasons why A. Mammadli was sent to Northern Ireland for a long period, are not disclosed yet," the publication says.

Also, after the exposure of the French agent network in 16 African countries, the work of representative offices of the Societe Generale bank was suspended.

Societe Generale is the bank where billionaire George Soros illegally made millions through unauthorized purchases and sales of shares using the bank's confidential information in 1988. He was convicted in 2002 and managed to get away with a large fine.