Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of France, has been released from the Santé prison, where he spent 20 days, and is now under judicial supervision until the appeal process is concluded. This was reported by the BBC.
The decision for his release was made by the Paris court at the request of both his lawyers and the prosecution.
According to the established conditions, Sarkozy is not allowed to leave France or communicate with representatives of the Ministry of Justice. During his imprisonment, the Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, visited the prison.
An hour after the court's decision was announced, the former president was picked up by his wife, Carla Bruni, and they headed home to the 16th arrondissement of Paris with a police escort.
The prosecution justified its position by stating that the likelihood of Sarkozy pressuring witnesses is considered low. Since the lawyers filed an appeal, the court addressed the issue of release based on the presumption of innocence, which aligns with French law that permits detention only in the presence of serious risks.
Sarkozy, speaking via video link, declared his innocence.
“I never thought of asking for money from Gaddafi. I will not confess to something I did not do,” he noted, adding that three weeks in Santé left an imprint on him but did not change his perspective on the situation.
He also expressed gratitude to the prison staff for their humane treatment and confirmed that he would comply with all supervision requirements.
According to his lawyers, the imprisonment had a significant impact on Sarkozy. One of them noted that the former president was threatened, and at night he heard screams from neighboring cells. It is reported that he was in a solitary cell and only ate yogurt out of fear that something might be mixed into his food.
Sarkozy is accused of receiving financial assistance of millions of euros from Muammar Gaddafi for his presidential campaign in 2007. In September 2025, the court sentenced him to five years in prison, part of which he must serve in prison. His appeal is scheduled to be heard in March 2026.
This is not the first criminal case against Sarkozy. In 2021, he was convicted on charges of corruption and influence peddling, but he has always insisted on his innocence.
