French artist Théo Clerc has been sentenced to three years in prison in Azerbaijan for graffiti in the Baku metro, sparking diplomatic tensions between France and Azerbaijan.

While his co-accused, a New Zealander and an Australian, received only fines, Clerc's harsher sentence is seen as discriminatory by French authorities.

The French Foreign Ministry has condemned the ruling as arbitrary, highlighting the strained relations between the two nations.

The case has led France to advise its citizens against traveling to Azerbaijan due to risks of arbitrary detention.

This incident underscores the ongoing diplomatic friction, partly fueled by France's support for Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.