Laurent Vinatier: Russia jails French researcher in ‘foreign agent’ case

On Monday, Judge Natalia Cheprasova at Moscow’s Zamoskvoretsky district court said: “The court ruled to find Vinatier guilty and sentence 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.

After the court verdict, Vinatier’s defence lawyer Pavel Mamonov told reporters: “We consider the sentence harsh and will definitely appeal.”

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.