Russian Prosecutor Seeks Jail Time for French Researcher

Maryya Kalesnikava, a prominent Belarusian opposition figure, has been imprisoned for 18 months without communication, raising concerns about her health and the conditions of political prisoners in Belarus. Kalesnikava was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2021 for charges deemed politically motivated following protests against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Meanwhile, in Russia, French researcher Laurent Vinatier faces a prosecutor's request for a three-year and three-month sentence for allegedly breaching 'foreign agent' laws by gathering military information without registration. Vinatier, who confessed to the charges, has been criticized by human rights advocates who view the law as a tool for suppressing dissent. His case reflects the increasing frequency of espionage-related arrests in Russia amid ongoing tensions with the West. Both situations underline the harsh realities faced by dissenters in authoritarian regimes.