French Researcher Laurent Vinatier's Three-Year Prison Sentence Upheld in Russia

Moscow court rejects appeal, as France condemns the ruling and calls for his immediate release.

Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher specializing in post-Soviet studies, was sentenced to three years in prison for failing to register as a 'foreign agent' in Russia.
The Moscow appellate court upheld the October 2024 ruling, with Vinatier expressing remorse and claiming ignorance of the law during the hearing.
Vincentier worked for a Swiss NGO mediating conflicts, including efforts related to the Russia-Ukraine war, and was accused of gathering military-related information.
France denounced the conviction as arbitrary and criticized Russia's 'foreign agent' law for undermining fundamental freedoms.
The case highlights deteriorating relations between France and Russia, with tensions exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and mutual allegations of disinformation and repression.