Russia Jails French Researcher for Allegedly Collecting Military Data
NewsweekOct 23
Russia Jails French Researcher for Three Years
Above: Laurent Vinatier sits inside a defendant's cage during a hearing in Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky district court on Oct. 14, 2024. Image copyright: Alexander Nemenov/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
A Russian court on Monday sentenced Laurent Vinatier, a 48-year-old French national, to three years in prison for allegedly gathering military data.
Vinatier was arrested in Moscow in June for failing to register as a "foreign agent," as per Russian law while collecting data on the country's military.
The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
Vinatier's arrest and conviction are justified under Russian law. He failed to register as a foreign agent while collecting sensitive military information that could harm Russia's national security. The reduced sentence demonstrates the court's consideration of his cooperation and remorse.
Anti-Russia narrative
Vinatier's conviction is another example of Russia's increasingly frequent detentions on charges of spying and collecting sensitive data since the start of the Ukraine war. This case highlights the use of vague laws to suppress academic research and international cooperation.