Russia jails French researcher in ‘foreign agent’ case
A court in Moscow has sentenced a French researcher to three years in a penal colony for violating Russia’s controversial “foreign agent” registration law.
Laurent Vinatier, who was affiliated with a Switzerland-based conflict mediation NGO, was arrested in June while allegedly gathering information about Russia’s military operations.
During the courtroom proceedings, Vinatier spoke in Russian and expressed remorse, claiming he was unaware of the requirement to register. The 48-year-old, who had previously admitted his guilt, also recited a line from Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.
France criticized the ruling as “extremely harsh” and called for Vinatier’s immediate release. His defense team announced plans to appeal the verdict.
On Monday, Judge Natalia Cheprasova of Moscow’s Zamoskvoretsky District Court declared, “The court finds Vinatier guilty and sentences him to three years in a general regime penal colony.”
State prosecutors had demanded a jail term of three years and three months. They had argued that the information collected by Vinatier may have been used against Russia.
Speaking during the hearing, Vinatier apologised for his actions and said he loved Russia. Wearing a blue open-necked shirt and jeans, he did not display any emotion as the verdict against him was read out.
He concluded his comments by reciting a poem by Pushkin – If Life Deceives You -which speaks of having the patience to know that better days are ahead, the AFP news agency reported.
A plea by Vinatier’s defence team for him to be fined instead of facing a jail term was dismissed by the presiding judge.
After the court verdict, Vinatier’s lawyer Pavel Mamonov told reporters: “We consider the sentence harsh and will definitely appeal.”
Reacting to the sentencing, the French foreign ministry said in a statement: “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.”
Vinatier worked for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue non-government organisation when he was arrested. The NGO states its main activity is “to prevent and resolve armed conflicts around the world through mediation and discreet diplomacy”.
Russia requires anyone who gets foreign support or is under influence from abroad to declare themselves as a foreign agent.
The Kremlin has used the 2012 law to squash any opposition inside the country to President Vladimir Putin, and also as a pretext to detain people, including foreigners.
Russia has in the past used foreign national detained in the country as bargaining chips to secure the release of its nationals arrested abroad.
In August, Russia freed US reported Evan Gershkovich, ex-US Marine Paul Whelan and over a dozen others in exchange for several Russian spies detained across the West.
