Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French national Martin Ryan on Wednesday, shortly after the European Union lifted sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. Ryan had been serving a 10-year prison sentence in Azerbaijan after being convicted of espionage in March. It was not immediately clear whether he had been released.

European diplomats told Reuters that France had privately indicated concerns that Azerbaijan was using Usmanov’s sanctions case to pressure Paris over French citizens detained in the country. Azerbaijan rejected the suggestion, saying its support for removing sanctions against Usmanov was based on its view that the measures were unjust. Relations between France and Azerbaijan have been strained for years, partly over France’s support for Armenia.

The EU’s decision to remove sanctions on Usmanov and fellow Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman has also exposed differences among EU governments over policy toward Moscow. Ukraine has criticized the move and said it would seek to have sanctions reinstated. Ryan was among 19 people pardoned by Aliyev on Wednesday, including Azerbaijani, Turkish, Russian-Israeli and Pakistani citizens.

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