EU’s high rep applauds pardoning of French citizen by Azerbaijani leader

EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, has expressed her approval of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s recent decision to pardon French citizen Théo Clerc. 

“Welcome home, Théo Clerc. His release from Azerbaijan shows what quiet diplomacy and respectful engagement can achieve,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Kallas’ message on X. 

The French citizen who painted rail cars in Baku’s metro was deprived of liberty under the article of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan for intentionally destroying or damaging the property. Clerc was previously punished in France for such acts and a fine was imposed on him. He was sentenced to three years in prison by the Narimanov District Court in 2024.

By Naila Huseynova