 After spending 17 years in jail, he was pardoned by the Bourges court of appeals on April 23, 2001 on the condition that he be deported to Armenia.The mayor of Yerevan, Robert Nazaryan, had pledged to provide him with employment and accommodation, and in Yerevan Garabedian had a meeting with Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, who expressed happiness at his release.While in prison, he started to paint and produced many paintings.