French Citizen Pleads Guilty to Spying Charges in Russia

A French national, Laurent Vinatier, who was arrested in Russia, has admitted to criminal activities related to gathering unauthorized information on military matters in the country, according to the state news agency Tass.

Vinatier’s arrest took place in June in Moscow during a period of heightened tensions between Russia and France following remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the potential deployment of French troops in Ukraine.

Russian authorities accused Vinatier of failing to adhere to the regulations requiring registration as a “foreign agent” while engaging in the collection of intelligence on Russia’s military and military-technical operations, which they claimed could pose a threat to national security.

Under Russian law, the offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Vinatier, an adviser with the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, was placed in pretrial detention until 5 August following a court order.

The NGO supporting Vinatier stated that they are making every effort to assist him, including facilitating his legal representation.

Details of the Case

• During his visits to Moscow, Vinatier reportedly established contacts with various individuals in the expert and scientific community, including political scientists, sociologists, economists, military experts, and government officials.
• The Russian Investigative Committee disclosed that seven witnesses were interrogated regarding their meetings with Vinatier to obtain information on military and military-technical activities.
• An examination of audio recordings from the meetings and electronic devices confiscated from Vinatier was ordered by authorities.
• Vinatier confessed to the allegations during questioning, as reported by Tass, citing the Investigative Committee.

The charges against Vinatier are connected to a recent law mandating that individuals collecting data on military subjects must register with authorities as foreign agents.

Concerns have been raised by human rights advocates over this legislation and other recent measures, viewing them as part of a broader crackdown by the Kremlin on independent media and political dissent aimed at suppressing criticism of its actions in Ukraine.

Instances of arrests on charges of espionage and unauthorized data collection have been on the rise in Russia since its military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022.

Notable recent cases include the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges in March 2023 and the detention of U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva in October 2023 on similar allegations as Vinatier.