French Researcher Sentenced to Three Years in Russia

Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher working for a Swiss NGO, has been sentenced to three years in a Russian penal colony for failing to register as a 'foreign agent.' Arrested in June, he was accused of gathering information on Russia's military without the necessary registration, a violation of the controversial law that has been used to suppress dissent. During the trial, Vinatier admitted to breaking the law, asserting he was unaware of the registration requirement, and recited verses from Russian poet Alexander Pushkin in his defense. The prosecution recommended a sentence of three years and three months, citing security threats posed by his actions, but the court settled on a three-year term. The French government has condemned the ruling, calling for Vinatier's immediate release and criticizing the 'foreign agent' legislation as a violation of fundamental freedoms. French President Emmanuel Macron has also denounced the charges as propaganda, highlighting the political context of the case amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West.