French Citizen Faces Russian Court Accused of Military Information Espionage

A Russian court is considering a three-year prison sentence for French national Laurent Vinatier, accused of illegally collecting military information. Vinatier admitted guilt, prompting expedited proceedings. He is accused of foreign agent violations amid heightened France-Russia tensions. Critics deem the law part of a Kremlin crackdown on dissent.

On Monday, prosecutors in Russia sought a prison term of over three years for Laurent Vinatier, a French citizen accused of illegally gathering data on Russian military matters.

Vinatier, apprehended in June, confessed to the charges, allowing for an expedited trial that bypasses extensive evidence review. This case highlights the mounting frequency of espionage-related detentions in Russia, an issue that has intensified since its military engagement in Ukraine in early 2022.

The charges are linked to Vinatier's alleged failure to comply with a law mandating foreign agents to register when collecting military information, a policy criticized by human rights advocates as part of Moscow's broader efforts to clamp down on dissenting voices and independent media.

(With inputs from agencies.)