Frenchman accused of ‘carrying the position of Russia’ faces up to five years in prison

On Friday, a Moscow court ordered the pre-trial detention of Laurent Vinatier, a 47-year-old Frenchman accused of violating the law on “foreign agents”. With drawn features and wearing a black shirt in the cage reserved for the accused, he presented his “apologies” for not registering as a “foreign agent” and claimed to have “carried the position of Russia” in his work.

Laurent Vinatier, collaborator of a Swiss conflict resolution NGO, was arrested on Thursday. He is officially being prosecuted for violating a law dealing with “foreign agents.” If he was placed in pre-trial detention until August 5, he faces up to five years in prison due to this legislation, used by Moscow to repress its detractors.

Laurent Vinatier’s lawyer Alexei Sinitsyn assured that his client did not know that he was obliged to register under this infamous label and requested his placement under house arrest in Moscow with his wife, not in a detention center. According to the Tass agency, which quotes his remarks in court, Laurent Vinatier indicated that he had two minor children, one of whom is disabled and requires care.

The terms of the press release from the Investigative Committee refer to a “targeted collection of information in the field of Russia’s military and military-technical activities”, which suggests even heavier charges against the Frenchman placed in detention.

Laurent Vinatier works for the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a Swiss NGO, as an advisor for Russia and Eurasia. The latter requested her “release” on Thursday. According to several sources