PARIS — The high-profile trial of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy regarding alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign has brought to light the controversial back-channel negotiations between Sarkozy's administration and the government of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Family members of victims of terror attacks associated with Gadhafi's regime have expressed their dismay, suggesting that Sarkozy may have compromised their loved ones’ memories in efforts to establish favorable relations with Libya.

The trial commenced in January and concluded with the closing arguments from Sarkozy's legal defense team on Tuesday.

A verdict is anticipated on September 25. Prosecutors are seeking a seven-year prison sentence for Sarkozy, 70, who served as president from 2007 to 2012 and has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Key testimonies in the court centered on Sarkozy's engagement with Libya during the 2000s, a period marked by Gadhafi's attempts to mend relations with Western nations, previously perceived as hostile due to Libya’s history of sponsoring terrorism.

Families of victims of the 1989 UTA flight bombing expressed feelings of betrayal, suspecting that promises made by French officials to Gadhafi may have included a tacit agreement to overlook the past terrorist acts in return for economic incentives.

Significantly, the UTA flight 772 bombing occurred shortly after the infamous Lockerbie bombing in 1988, the latter resulting in 270 fatalities, including many Americans.

Both attacks have been linked to the Libyan government, prompting international investigations into Gadhafi's role.

Nicoletta Diasio, a victim's family member, articulated her distress in court, questioning whether the sacrifices of victims were exploited as bargaining chips in Franco-Libyan negotiations.

Sarkozy, however, asserted that he has “never ever betrayed” the victims’ families.

Libya began efforts to repair its status as a pariah state in 2003 by acknowledging its responsibility for both bombings and offering compensation to victims’ families.

This shift paved the way for the lifting of international sanctions and renewed diplomatic relations.

During Gadhafi's five-day visit to Paris in 2007, marked by lavish hospitality, Sarkozy made significant strides in fostering French-Libyan relations.

The visit was partly justified following Libya’s release of several Bulgarian medical workers, a diplomatic effort facilitated by Sarkozy and tied to Gadhafi's ongoing perception shift on the world stage.

Financial prosecutors allege that Sarkozy's campaign financing involved clandestine agreements to lift arrest warrants for key Gadhafi associates, including Abdullah al-Senoussi, Gadhafi’s brother-in-law, who was previously convicted in absentia for orchestrating the UTA bombing.

Meetings between Sarkozy’s aides and Libyan representatives have raised further questions about the nature of the alleged deals.

Gadhafi’s son, Seif al-Islam, claimed involvement in providing Sarkozy with substantial campaign contributions, a statement Sarkozy vehemently refuted as false.

Sarkozy maintained that his electoral campaign received no funds from Libyan sources, asserting the absence of corruption.

As the Libyan civil war erupted in 2011, Sarkozy transitioned from diplomatic engagement with Gadhafi to publicly advocating for his removal from power, marking a drastic shift in France's foreign policy.

Sarkozy was the first Western leader to support the rebellion against Gadhafi, declaring the need for accountability for the violence inflicted upon civilians.

The trial continues to draw attention to the intricate and often controversial relationship between France and Libya, highlighting not only the complexities of international diplomacy but also the lingering wounds left by terrorism and international politics.