Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in the Libyan money case. What you need to know

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who led the country from 2007 to 2012, was found guilty of participating in a criminal conspiracy related to the financing of his 2007 election campaign at the expense of the Libyan authorities. He has been sentenced to five years in prison, but he will not serve it in prison — the execution of the sentence has been suspended. What you need to know about this case is in the Izvestia article.

What is the essence of the matter

• Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty of conspiracy, which, according to investigators, took place in 2005-2007. At the same time, other charges, such as illegal campaign financing, passive corruption and concealment of embezzlement of Libyan public funds, were dropped. The origins of the case go back to 2013, when French-Lebanese businessman Ziyad Takiddin declared his awareness and claimed that Libya had participated in financing Sarkozy's election campaign. He claimed that from the end of 2006 to the beginning of 2007, he personally delivered about €5 million in cash from Tripoli to Paris, which Sarkozy and his chief of staff allegedly received. However, in 2020, the businessman retracted his own words, and in September 2025, he died at the age of 75.

• The son of ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al—Islam, also claimed evidence of Libya's involvement, publicly confirming the involvement of his country's authorities in financing the campaign of the French politician. In 2018, a new charge was brought against Sarkozy — bribery, the use of illegal sources for elections and the concealment of Libyan funds. He himself has consistently stated that this is about slander and political pressure.

• Three years later, in March 2021, the court convicted him in another case: according to investigators, in 2014, the former president tried to bribe the judge of the Court of Cassation Gilbert Azibera to obtain confidential information about the investigation. The attempt was exposed due to wiretapping of telephone conversations. In 2023, Sarkozy was defeated in an appeal and then in a cassation appeal. The court decision provided for three years of imprisonment, of which two years were suspended, and one year was with restricted movement and under the control of an electronic bracelet.

The case of Gerard Depardieu. What is the French movie star accused of?

What is Sarkozy known for?

Nicolas Sarkozy went down in French history as one of the most controversial politicians of the early 21st century. His political career began at the municipal level: in his youth he showed interest in public activities, and at the age of 28 he became mayor of a small Neuilly-sur-Seine, a prestigious suburb of Paris. He held this post for many years and thanks to him gained a reputation as an energetic and ambitious politician. Later, he became involved in national politics and was a member of the Government on several occasions. At various times, he held the positions of Minister of Budget, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Minister of Finance. The politician attracted especially much attention in his role as Interior Minister, as he demonstrated a tough stance on combating illegal migration.

In 2007, Sarkozy won the election and became the 23rd president of France. He led the country during a difficult period related to the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, when the economy was in recession and the French government had to look for ways to stabilize the situation. Sarkozy actively participated in international politics and sought to strengthen France's influence in the European Union and on the world stage. He played a significant role in the negotiations on the reform of European institutions, and also participated in the settlement of conflicts in Georgia and Libya. Sarkozy sought to make France a key player in global politics.

• Sarkozy tried to modernize the French internal system. His initiatives were often perceived ambiguously, as part of society considered them too liberal and business-friendly, while others saw them as an attempt to update outdated mechanisms. After the end of his presidential term in 2012, Sarkozy did not retire from political life. He continued to influence the Union for a Popular Movement party and for some time retained the role of leader of the French center-right political line.

• Nevertheless, his name was increasingly mentioned in the context of investigations and court proceedings. The most high-profile cases were related to allegations of corruption, illegal financing of the election campaign and ties with Libya during the reign of Muammar Gaddafi. He has repeatedly declared his innocence and called these charges politically motivated.

From a rural teacher to the failed prime minister of France. 5 facts about Francois Bayrou

Over the years, Sarkozy has been awarded numerous awards and titles. In particular, he received the Legion of Honor and the Order of Merit, but after the first verdict in the corruption case, these awards were withdrawn. He was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Charles III in Spain, the title of Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in Great Britain, and the Order of the Golden Fleece in Spain.

In addition to political and social activities, Sarkozy proved himself to be an author. He has written several books, including the biographical study "Georges Mandel. A monk from politics", as well as "On the verge of passion – balance" and "Testimony". In them, he spoke about his view on politics and society.