The Kremlin said Thursday that it is in contact with French authorities over the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a three year sentence in Russia and now reportedly facing additional espionage charges.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Moscow has made an offer to Paris regarding Vinatier, who was arrested in Moscow last year for collecting military related information. Peskov declined to reveal details, saying only that the next move belongs to France.
The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said he is closely monitoring the case. French officials stressed that government services are fully engaged in providing consular support and working toward Vinatier’s release as quickly as possible.
Peskov’s comments followed a question posed to President Vladimir Putin during his annual news conference in December, when he was asked whether Vinatier’s family could hope for a pardon or a prisoner exchange. Putin said he knew nothing about the case but promised to examine it.
Vinatier was detained in June 2024 and accused of failing to register as a foreign agent while gathering information on Russia’s military activities. The offense carries a maximum sentence of five years. His arrest came amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Paris after Macron raised the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine.
Despite his lawyers requesting a fine, a Russian court sentenced Vinatier to three years in prison in October 2024. France condemned the ruling as extremely severe and demanded his immediate release.
Arrests on espionage related charges have surged in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as authorities expand the use of foreign agent laws that critics say suppress dissent and restrict fundamental freedoms.
The French Foreign Ministry has repeatedly called for the repeal of these laws, arguing that they undermine freedom of association, opinion and expression. Human rights groups say the legislation is part of a broader crackdown on independent voices.
Vinatier works as an adviser for the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Switzerland based organization that has pledged to support him. During his trial, he appealed for leniency, citing his responsibility for two children and elderly parents.
In August 2025, Russian state media reported that Vinatier now faces an additional espionage charge. Convictions for espionage in Russia carry sentences ranging from ten to twenty years.
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