The Kremlin says Moscow made an offer to France regarding a French citizen imprisoned in Russia
The Kremlin said on Thursday it was in contact with French authorities over the fate of a French political expert sentenced to three years in prison in Russia and reportedly facing new espionage charges.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia “made an offer to the French” regarding Laurent Vinatier, who was arrested in Moscow last year. found guilty of collecting military informationand “the ball is now in France’s court.” He declined to give details, citing the sensitivity of the issue.
France’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday it had no comment.
Peskov’s words came after a question asked by journalist Jérôme Garro of the French TF1 TV channel to President Vladimir Putin during his term in office. annual press conference On December 19, it will be announced whether Vinatier’s family will hope for a presidential pardon or his release through a prisoner exchange. Putin said he knew “nothing” about the incident but promised to investigate the matter.
vinatier Arrested in Moscow in June 2024. Russian authorities accused him of failing to register as a “foreign agent” while collecting information about Russia’s “military and military-technical activities” that could be used to harm national security. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The arrest came as tensions increased between Moscow and Paris following French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments on this issue. Possible deployment of French troops to Ukraine.
Vinatier’s lawyers asked the court to fine him, but the judge sentenced him to three years in prison in October 2024; This sentence was described as “extremely severe” by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which called for the academic’s immediate release.
Detentions on espionage charges Since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the harvesting of sensitive data has become increasingly frequent in Russia and Russia’s heavily politicized legal system.
In addition to criticizing the sentence, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for the repeal of Russia’s laws on foreign agents; This law subjects those with this label to additional government scrutiny and numerous restrictions. Violations may lead to criminal prosecution. The ministry said the law “contributes to the systematic violation of fundamental freedoms in Russia, such as freedom of association, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression.”
Vinatier is an advisor to the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Switzerland-based non-governmental organization, and said in June 2024 that he was doing “everything possible to help”.
Asking for mercy from the judge before the verdict, Vinatier pointed out his two children and his elderly parents whom he had to take care of.
The charges against Vinatier relate to a law that requires anyone gathering information on military matters to register with the authorities as a foreign agent.
Human rights advocates criticized the law and other new legislation as part of a campaign. Pressure on the Kremlin It’s about independent media and political activists aiming to suppress criticism of the war in Ukraine.
In August 2025, Russian state news agency Tass reported that Vinatier had also been charged with espionage, citing court records but without providing details. Those convicted of espionage in Russia face a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years.
In recent years, Russia has detained numerous foreigners (mostly US citizens) on various charges and then released them through prisoner exchanges with the US and other Western countries. The biggest change since the Cold War took place in August 2024, when Moscow released journalists. Evan Gershkovich And Alsu KurmashevaAmerican friend Paul WhelanAnd Russian dissidents inside a multinational agreement that freed two dozen people.
