A Moscow court has sentenced a French researcher to three years in a penal colony for violating Russia’s contentious “foreign agent” registration law. Laurent Vinatier, affiliated with a conflict mediation NGO based in Switzerland, was arrested in June while allegedly gathering information regarding Russia’s military operations.
During the court proceedings, Vinatier expressed remorse in Russian, claiming ignorance of the registration requirement. The 48-year-old, who had previously acknowledged his guilt, quoted a verse from Russian poet Alexander Pushkin as he faced the court.
The judge dismissed a request from Vinatier’s defense team for a monetary fine instead of imprisonment, and they have affirmed intentions to appeal the ruling. The French government has yet to release an official statement regarding the court’s decision, although President Emmanuel Macron previously called for Vinatier’s release.
Judge Natalia Cheprasova, presiding over the Zamoskvoretsky district court, declared Vinatier guilty and imposed a three-year sentence, despite prosecutors advocating for a harsher term of three years and three months. Prosecutors argued that the information Vinatier collected could have posed a threat to Russia’s security.
In his remarks during the hearing, Vinatier reiterated his affection for Russia, displaying little emotion as the verdict was announced. He concluded his comments with a rendition of Pushkin’s poem “If Life Deceives You,” which conveys a message of patience and hope for better days ahead.
After the ruling, Vinatier’s defense attorney described the sentence as excessively harsh and confirmed plans to appeal. Vinatier was working for an organization dedicated to mediating and resolving global armed conflicts when he was detained.
Under Russia’s 2012 law, individuals receiving foreign support or influence are mandated to register as foreign agents. This legislation has been leveraged by the Kremlin to suppress dissent against President Vladimir Putin and detain individuals, including foreign nationals. Historically, Russia has used detained foreigners as leverage to negotiate the release of its citizens held abroad. In August, Russia facilitated the release of several individuals, including US nationals, in exchange for Russian spies apprehended in Western countries.
