Prosecutors in Russia have requested a prison sentence of three years and three months for a French citizen, Laurent Vinatier, who was arrested in Moscow in June on charges of unlawfully collecting information on military issues. Vinatier had admitted guilt, leading to a fast-track trial without a detailed examination of evidence.
Detentions related to spying and collecting sensitive data have been on the rise in Russia since the country's military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022. Vinatier's arrest occurred amidst escalating tensions between Moscow and Paris following remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the potential deployment of French troops in Ukraine.
Russian authorities alleged that Vinatier failed to register as a 'foreign agent' while gathering information on Russia's military and military-technical activities that could compromise national security. Prosecutors claimed that Vinatier obtained military information during meetings with three Russian citizens in Moscow between 2021 and 2022, although the individuals were not named in the indictment.
Vinatier's defense team argued that the proposed sentence was overly severe and advocated for a fine instead. Vinatier works as an adviser for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Switzerland-based nongovernmental organization that stated it was making every effort to support him.
The charges against Vinatier stem from a law mandating that individuals collecting military-related information must register with authorities as foreign agents. Critics, including human rights activists, have condemned this law and other recent legislation as part of a broader crackdown by the Kremlin on independent media and political activists aimed at suppressing criticism of Russia's actions in Ukraine.
