The Zamoskvoretsky District Court in Moscow on Tuesday extended the detention of Laurent Vinatier, advisor to Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)’s Eurasia team. Vinatier is allegedly in breach of Article 330.1.3 of the Russian Criminal Code, which pertains to “Evasion of Obligations Under Russia’s Foreign Agent Legislation,” and is to be imprisoned until February 21, 2025.
Following the extension, Vinatier’s next hearing is scheduled for September 16, 2024. The court granted this extension to allow Vinatier more time to prepare for the upcoming hearing, given the previous lack of notice of the proceedings. Vinatier is accused of gathering information on Russia’s military without registering as a foreign agent, raising concerns in Moscow about the potential misuse of this information by other states against Russia.
In June, Vinatier was arrested in Moscow by officers from the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB). He has pleaded guilty, stating he was unaware of the requirement to register as a foreign agent. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. Vinatier is one of several Western nationals who have been imprisoned in Russia in recent years for various offenses, including espionage and failing to register as foreign agents.
Notably, Vinatier was excluded from the prisoner exchange on August 1, 2024, where 16 individuals imprisoned in Russia and Belarus were released in Ankara, Turkey, and eight Russian detainees were returned to Moscow. Among those released were Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan.
In 2022, Russia introduced and enforced Federal Law No. 255-FZ of July 14, 2022, on Control over the Activities of Persons Under Foreign Influence, along with other related laws, including amendments to Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and administrative offences. These amendments impose increased restrictions on individuals and entities labeled as foreign agents. Under these regulations, anyone collecting information about Russia’s military must register as a foreign agent with Russian authorities and is listed on the registry by the Ministry of Justice. Russia has also enacted various laws to suppress free speech, including measures against anti-Russo-Ukrainian war sentiment and materials that contradict official state information.