A Moscow court has sentenced a French researcher to three years in exile for violating Russia’s controversial “foreign agent” registration law.
Laurent Vinatier, who worked for a Swiss-based conflict mediation NGO, was arrested in June while gathering what prosecutors said was information about the Russian military.
Vinatier apologized in Russian in court, saying he didn’t know he was supposed to register. The 48-year-old had earlier admitted his guilt and recited a poem by Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.
Vinatier’s defense team’s request that he be fined rather than face jail time was rejected by the trial judge. The team said he would appeal.
France has yet to comment publicly on the Moscow court’s decision. President Macron had earlier called for Vinatier’s release.
“The court found Vinatier guilty and sentenced him to three years in a penal colony under the general power,” Natalia Cheprasova, a judge at Moscow’s Zamoskvoretsky District Court, said on Monday.
State prosecutors asked for a sentence of three years and three months in prison. They believe the information Vinatier collected could be used against Russia.
Vinatier spoke at the hearing, apologizing for his actions and saying he loved Russia. Wearing a blue open-collar shirt and jeans, he showed no emotion as his sentence was read out.
He concluded by reciting a poem by Pushkin, “If Life Deceived You,” about being patient and knowing that better days lie ahead, AFP reported.
After the court’s verdict, Vinatier’s defense lawyer Pavel Mamonov told reporters: “We think the sentence is harsh and we will definitely appeal.”
Vinatier was working for the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, an NGO, at the time of his arrest. The NGO says its main activity is “the prevention and resolution of armed conflicts around the world through mediation and cautious diplomacy.”
Russia requires anyone receiving foreign support or influence to declare themselves a foreign agent.
The Kremlin has used the 2012 law to suppress any domestic opposition to President Vladimir Putin and used it as a pretext to detain people, including foreigners.
Russia has in the past used foreigners detained in the country as bargaining chips to secure the release of nationals arrested abroad.
In August, Russia released U.S. informant Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and a dozen others in exchange for several Russian spies detained in the Western world.
