French Citizen Detained In Russia On Dubious Charge

(NewsWorthy.news) – Moscow’s Zamoskvoretsky court detained Laurent Vinatier, a French citizen, on June 7 after he was accused of gathering information on Russian military affairs. Vinatier was charged under Article 330.1 of the Russian Criminal Code of violating the rules of foreign agents’ activity. If convicted, the Frenchman could be jailed for up to five years. Vinatier pleaded guilty to the charges. Russia’s Investigative Committee stated the information could be utilized to threaten the nation’s security if it falls into foreign hands.

Vinatier, 47, works as a consultant for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, which is based in Geneva. The organization focuses on the use of discreet diplomacy to resolve and mediate conflicts. The Centre Humanitarian Dialogue shared its deep concern over the arrest of Vinatier, stressing the humanitarian and diplomatic nature of his work, which includes research into Russia and former Soviet states. The organization called for the immediate release of the Frenchman.

Tensions between Moscow and Paris were already high following President Emmanuel Macron’s comments in March that did not rule out putting boots on the ground in Ukraine. France has since sent Mirage fighter jets to Ukraine and committed to training pilots to aid the country’s war effort. Macron demanded the immediate release of Vinatier, stating that the charges were unfounded. He stressed that the French government did not employ Vinatier, and that he was solely employed by a Swiss non-governmental organization.

Vinatier spoke in French and Russian at the hearing. He described the outcome as against both him and the organization as a whole. Switzerland’s foreign ministry clarified that, though the organization received funding from several states, Switzerland did not finance any activities linked to Russia. Vinatier’s legal team argued that he should be placed under house arrest so that he could stay with his wife in Moscow.

The Frenchman stated that he did not intend to obstruct investigators, adding that he had a “great conversation” with them. In recent years Russia has invoked laws affecting foreign agents to detain westerners. Evan Gershkovich, a U.S. journalist, was arrested on charges of espionage, and Paul Whelan, a U.S. Marine, has been in jail for over five years on similar charges. Both alleged spies deny the charges and the White House has declared they have been “wrongfully detained”. Vinatier will remain in custody until August 5 while the investigation is ongoing.