Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from La Sante prison in Paris after serving 20 days of a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy related to Libyan funding of his 2007 presidential campaign.
The Paris court ruled that Sarkozy, 70, can await his appeal under judicial supervision, citing no risk of evidence tampering or witness pressure.
Sarkozy, who maintains his innocence, described his imprisonment as a “nightmare” and thanked prison staff for their humanity.
“It’s hard, very hard, certainly for any prisoner. I would even say it’s gruelling,” he said via video call from jail. His release was hailed as “a step forward” by his defence team.
The former president’s release comes with conditions, including a ban on leaving France and contacting anyone involved in the case, including Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin.
Sarkozy’s lawyers had argued that no valid reason justified keeping him in custody, and prosecutors had requested his release.
Sarkozy’s imprisonment marked a stunning downfall for a former head of state, making him the first modern French president to serve prison time.
He has faced a string of legal woes since losing his re-election bid in 2012, including convictions for corruption and influence peddling.
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