France demands release of citizen Vinatier held in Russia
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FILE PHOTO: French researcher Laurent Vinatier, who is suspected of illegally collecting sensitive Russian military information, sits inside an enclosure for defendants during a court hearing in Moscow, Russia July 31, 2024. REUTERS/Yulia Morozova/File Photo
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PARIS - France called on Aug 2 for the immediate release of French researcher Laurent Vinatier by Russia as it welcomed the major prisoner exchange on Aug 1 that resulted in the release of 16 prisoners from Russia to the West.
Vinatier in June pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to register as a foreign agent while gathering information on the Russian military, and faces up to five years in prison.
A Russian court this week extended the pre-trial detention of Vinatier until Sept 5.
"Our thoughts are with those people who remain held in custody arbitrarily in Russia, most notably such as our compatriot Laurent Vinatier," the French foreign ministry said in a statement. "France calls for their immediate release."
On Aug 1, US journalist Evan Gershkovich and ex-US Marine Paul Whelan were among three American citizens returned to the United States, hours after being freed from Russian detention as part of the biggest prisoner exchange between the two countries since the Cold War. REUTERS
