Nicolas Sarkozy was released from prison after 20 days.

The French Court of Appeal granted the prosecutor's request and released Nicolas Sarkozy after just over 20 days in prison, BFMTV reports. According to the channel, the 70-year-old former president has already left prison and returned home.

At the same time, according to the court's ruling, Sarkozy remains under judicial supervision: he is prohibited from leaving France and communicating with other defendants in the case, as well as with Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. If these conditions are violated, the politician will be sent back to prison.

Sarkozy himself, who participated in the hearing via video link, stated that his time in prison had been an "extremely difficult" and "exhausting" experience. He continued to deny any wrongdoing.

As a reminder, Nicolas Sarkozy became the first former French president (who ruled from 2007 to 2012) to receive a prison sentence. On September 25, a court found him guilty of conspiracy in the case of the illegal financing of his 2007 election campaign by the Libyan government and sentenced him to five years in prison. He began serving his sentence on October 21 in La Santé Prison, one of the oldest and harshest in France, where he arrived voluntarily, with the support of his family and supporters.

It is noteworthy that while in prison, Sarkozy refused prison food, fearing poisoning, and ate exclusively yogurt.

Nicolas Sarkozy has been married to supermodel Carla Bruni since 2008. The couple has a 13-year-old daughter, Julia. Carla also has an adult son, Aurélien, and Nicolas has three sons from previous marriages.

Фото: Thierry Chesnot/Getty Imagescarlabruniofficial/Instagram**