Jailed French researcher faces new Russian espionage charge, court says

Laurent Vinatier is already in prison on charges of violating the country’s ‘foreign agent’ laws. France has called for Vinatier’s release

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French researcher Laurent Vinatier sits inside a defendants’ cage during a hearing at Zamoskvoretsky district court in Moscow, Russia, in October. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:35am, 21 Aug 2025Updated: 9:00am, 21 Aug 2025

French researcher Laurent Vinatier, already jailed in Russia on charges of violating the country’s “foreign agent” laws, now faces a new espionage charge, according to court documents cited by Russian news agencies.

Vinatier was jailed for three years last October for failing to comply with laws requiring individuals deemed “foreign agents” to register and meet a number of stipulations. His appeal against the sentence was thrown out in February.

The FSB security service had accused Vinatier of failing to register as a foreign agent in Russia while collecting military information of value to foreign intelligence services.

Russian news agencies quoted documents from Moscow’s Lefortovo Court as saying he would now be charged under espionage laws, without providing further details. A hearing was set for Monday.

Vinatier, 49, is one of several Westerners to have been charged under Russian security laws at a time of tense confrontation between Moscow and the West over the war in Ukraine.

He told the court at his trial that he loved Russia and apologised for breaking the law.

Jailed French researcher faces new Russian espionage charge, court says

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Laurent Vinatier is already in prison on charges of violating the country’s ‘foreign agent’ laws. France has called for Vinatier’s release

Laurent Vinatier is already in prison on charges of violating the country’s ‘foreign agent’ laws. France has called for Vinatier’s release