French Researcher Laurent Vinatier Sentenced to Three Years in Russian Prison Over 'Foreign Agent' Charges

On October 14, Moscow court sentenced French researcher Laurent Vinatier to three years in prison for violating Russia's laws on "foreign agents."

Vinatier, a 48-year-old researcher for a Swiss conflict mediation NGO, was arrested in Moscow in June and charged with gathering information on Russia's military without being registered as a "foreign agent," an offense that carries a penalty of up to five years in prison in Russia.

During the court proceedings, Vinatier admitted to breaking the law, stating he was unaware of the requirement to register as a "foreign agent."

“I'm asking the Russian Federation to forgive me for failing to observe Russian laws,” he stated.

He said that he fell in love with Russia two decades ago while studying the country, and he concluded his remarks with a verse from Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.

Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky District Court announced the verdict, declaring, "We find Vinatier guilty... and impose a sentence of three years imprisonment in a penal colony."

Vinatier's lawyer, Oleg Bessonov, called the prosecution's request "extremely harsh" and urged the judge to consider a fine instead. "Our client committed a crime for the first time in Russia and has fully admitted his guilt," Bessonov stated.

Russia's "foreign agent" law, enacted in 2012, initially targeted NGOs receiving foreign funding and engaging in political activities. The law was expanded in 2022 to require individuals who collect information on Russia's military and defense sectors to register as "foreign agents."

The French Foreign Ministry condemned the "extreme severity" of the sentence and urged for Vinatier's immediate release.

"The legislation on 'foreign agents' contributes to a systematic violation of fundamental freedoms in Russia, such as freedom of association, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression," the ministry stated.

"French authorities remain fully mobilised to provide assistance (to Vinatier)," the statement continued.

Previously, a Russian court on Monday sentenced 72-year-old American citizen Stephen James Hubbard to six years and 10 months in prison after convicting him of allegedly serving as a mercenary for Ukraine in a closed-door trial.