French Researcher Laurent Vinatier Faces Extended Espionage Investigation in Russia,Potential Febuary Trial
Moscow – The espionage investigation into French researcher Laurent Vinatier,currently detained in russia,has been extended,with a trial perhaps scheduled for February 28,according to Frédéric Bélot,the lawyer representing Vinatier’s parents. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported the information, confirming details initially published by Intelligence Online.
Investigation conclusions are expected to be submitted by the end of January.A hearing, initially planned for Thursday, reportedly took place on November 21 “probably for the sake of discretion,” Bélot stated.
“We are paying close attention to the ongoing criminal proceedings. We hope that the defense arguments will be heard and we are counting on the support of French diplomacy, which is very crucial for Laurent and his family,” Bélot added, noting that Vinatier is currently in “GOOD” health.
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Quai d’orsay) affirmed its commitment to assisting Vinatier, stating to AFP, “The French authorities remain fully mobilized to provide assistance to Laurent Vinatier, arbitrarily detained in Russia, and to support his loved ones.” The Consulate General of France in Moscow will continue to monitor his situation closely.
Vinatier, a 49-year-old specialist in the post-Soviet space, has been incarcerated in Russia since June 2024. In October 2024, he was sentenced to three years in prison for failing to register as a “foreign agent,” a designation frequently used by Russian authorities to suppress dissent. He has faced additional espionage charges since the end of August, carrying a potential sentence of up to twenty years.
