Sarkozy Released from Prison Under Strict Conditions

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been granted early release after serving just three weeks of a five-year prison sentence for criminal conspiracy linked to alleged Libyan funding of his 2007 presidential campaign. A Paris court approved his release on Monday under tight judicial supervision, including a ban on leaving France and restrictions on contacting individuals tied to the case.

Sarkozy, 70, who has consistently denied wrongdoing, appeared via video link, describing his time in solitary confinement as “gruelling” and “a nightmare,” while thanking prison staff for their humane treatment. The prosecutor supported his release but insisted he avoid further contact with witnesses in the ongoing “Libyan dossier,” ahead of his appeal scheduled for next March.

His brief incarceration marked the first time a former French leader has been jailed since 1945. Sarkozy was held in an isolation wing with limited freedoms due to security concerns. His imprisonment also sparked controversy after a visit from Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, prompting complaints from lawyers over conflict of interest. Throughout, Sarkozy maintained he would “never admit to something I haven’t done.”

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