French Graffiti Artist Faces Appeal Hearing in Azerbaijan Amid Diplomatic Strain

Théo Clerc's three-year prison sentence for tagging a metro in Baku has drawn allegations of discriminatory treatment tied to deteriorating France-Azerbaijan relations.

Théo Clerc, a 38-year-old French graffiti artist, has been imprisoned in Azerbaijan for nine months after tagging a metro in Baku in March 2024.
Clerc was sentenced to three years in prison for 'hooliganism' and 'degradation of public property,' while his Australian and New Zealand companions received only fines and were allowed to leave the country.
His lawyer and family allege that Clerc is being used as a 'diplomatic pawn' due to strained relations between France and Azerbaijan, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and other disputes.
Clerc's appeal hearing is scheduled for December 16, 2024, with concerns that his sentence could be increased to up to seven years under Azerbaijani law.
The French government has warned its citizens against traveling to Azerbaijan, citing risks of arbitrary detention and judicial bias, while Clerc’s family criticizes the lack of transparency in diplomatic efforts for his release.