France accused of espionage in Azerbaijan — apparently they haven't seen how the Karosta Canal bridge works
Martin Rayen received 10 years in prison for espionage, although his only crime may have been his inability to properly assess the complexity of the diplomatic situation.
An Azerbaijani court, with the same logic that the Karosta Canal bridge creates drama between residents of both shores, sentenced Frenchman Martin Rayen to 10 years in prison for espionage. The only difference is that the bridge at least opens sometimes.
Rayen, who was detained in December 2023, confidently declared in court: "I am not a spy." In terms of convincing power, this statement is comparable to claiming "There's no smog in Riga." The prosecution, of course, didn't believe it and alleged that Rayen was collecting information about Azerbaijan's relations with Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan. By this logic, any tourist checking out local restaurants could be accused of culinary espionage.
Particularly spicy is the fact that Rayen was accused of recruiting Azerbaijanis at Moscow University. "What could be more suspicious than a student talking to other students?" the prosecutor probably thinks. Maybe they should spend some time in Liepāja, where even foreign students can freely walk down University Street without causing anyone paranoia.
French-Azerbaijani relations are now improving, and the presidents of both countries have already called each other to discuss the "normalization process." This sounds almost as optimistic as promising there won't be wind in Liepāja next year. However, as one diplomatic source said: "Among the disagreements is also Martin Rayen's fate." Well yes, that's definitely the main obstacle in international relations, not geopolitical tensions or economic interests.
⚠️ Satirical article. Facts are preserved, but the presentation is humorous. For accurate information, please refer to the original source.