Moscow court decides to keep Laurent Vinatier, a collaborator of a French NGO, in pretrial detention

A Moscow court ruled Thursday to keep in pretrial detention French researcher Laurent Vinatier, who was arrested last month for collecting military information. The researcher, who works for a Swiss conflict mediation NGO, is charged under Moscow’s “foreign agents” law, amid growing tensions between Russia and France over the Ukraine conflict.

Published on: 07/04/2024 – 12:08

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A Moscow court ruled on Thursday to keep in pre-trial detention French researcher Laurent Vinatier, who was arrested last month and accused of collecting military information.

The 47-year-old works for a Swiss conflict mediation NGO and is the latest Westerner to be arrested in Russia in early June, officially accused of violating Moscow’s “foreign agents” law.

Russian security services accuse him of collecting military information and his arrest comes as tensions between Moscow and Paris intensify over Ukraine.

The Moscow City Court on Thursday rejected Vinatier’s appeal to place him under house arrest.

Vinatier appeared in court via video link, wearing a black T-shirt and sitting behind bars, speaking with a Russian accent and visibly emotional.

“I will try to speak Russian. I am an analyst, researcher, writer… I have always wanted to adequately present in my work the interest and position of Russia on international relations,” he said.

“I love Russia, my wife is Russian, my life is connected with Russia,” he told the court, adding: “I don’t understand why I am here.”

His lawyers have given addresses where he could be moved to be placed under house arrest.

Vinatier said it would allow him to support his wife and children, who he said are school-age.

French President Emmanuel Macron demanded his release and the French consul general in Moscow was present at the hearing.

Last month, a court decided to keep Vinatier in custody until August 5.

Vinatier is an advisor to the Geneva-based Center for Humanitarian Dialogue and a senior researcher on Russia and other post-Soviet countries.

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Russia has arrested several Westerners during its offensive in Ukraine, severing ties with the West.

American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been detained by Moscow since last March on espionage charges that he denies.

(AFP)