A Moscow court on Tuesday ordered a French researcher accused of violating Russia's 'foreign agent' law to be detained until February next year, as tensions between Russia and the West escalate over the Ukraine conflict. Laurent Vinatier, who previously worked for a Swiss conflict mediation NGO, was arrested in Moscow in June and is among several Western citizens detained in Russian prisons in recent years on charges that the West considers unfounded. During the opening of the trial at Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky court, the judge extended Vinatier's detention until February 21, 2025, and scheduled the next hearing for September 16, according to AFP journalists present in the courtroom. Vinatier, who was held in a metal cage during the proceedings, requested additional time to prepare for his defense.
The 48-year-old faces a potential five-year prison sentence if convicted. France has called for Vinatier's release, labeling his detention as 'arbitrary'. Russian authorities claim Vinatier collected military information without registering as a 'foreign agent', a requirement under Russian law. This law is typically used against Russian citizens and domestic critics of the Kremlin, rather than foreign nationals. Russian investigators further allege that Vinatier gathered military information that could be used against Russia by foreign states, potentially leading to additional charges.
Russia has a history of using 'foreign agent' charges as a preliminary step before levying more serious accusations. Relations between Moscow and Paris are strained, particularly after France recently charged Russian-born Telegram founder Pavel Durov over illegal content on the social media platform, prompting a warning from the Kremlin against turning the case into 'political persecution'. In earlier court sessions, Vinatier admitted to violating the Russian law and apologized, stating he was unaware of the need to register as a 'foreign agent'. He serves as an adviser at the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, which focuses on preventing and resolving armed conflicts through mediation and discreet diplomacy.
Vinatier, a researcher on Russia and other post-Soviet countries, had been working on the Russia-Ukraine conflict for years before Russia's full-scale offensive in February 2022. The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue has been actively assisting Vinatier, who resides in Switzerland and frequently travels for his work. Married with four children, Vinatier has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest, with his requests for house arrest repeatedly denied. He expressed his love for Russia and his commitment to accurately representing Russia's interests in international relations during a hearing in early July.
In recent years, several Westerners, especially Americans, have been arrested in Russia on serious charges. The US accuses Moscow of using these arrests as leverage to secure the release of Russian nationals convicted abroad. On August 1, Russia conducted its largest prisoner swap with the West since the Cold War, releasing US reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan, and several others, including Russian opposition politicians.
