News Desk
Russia Foreign agent: Moscow claims to have detained a French national for failing to register as an agent and gathering information on Russia’s military operations.
The Russia’s Investigative Committee has claimed that such information can be considered as a security threat in case it gets to the hands of foreign actors. They have also uploaded a video that allegedly depicts the holding of the unidentified male subject at a cafe in Moscow.
The man who led the operation had recently showed up in the region and French President Emmanuel Macron noted that the man was not acting for France.
An international non- governmental organisation located in Switzerland also announced later that their adviser, Laurent Vinatier, was arrested in Moscow. The main official of the NGO decided to tell the AFP news agency about the given situation.
The NGO is actively seeking more information on the situation and working towards securing Laurent’s release. Their primary focus is on preventing and resolving armed conflicts globally through mediation and discreet diplomacy.
President Macron emphasized that the detained individual had no affiliation with France. Tensions between Paris and Moscow have escalated due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Investigative Committee announced the initiation of a criminal case, with charges expected to be brought against the suspect soon. The French citizen had been visiting Russia for several years, engaging in meetings with Russian individuals.
A brief video released by the Investigative Committee depicts a man, with his face obscured, being apprehended by Russian law enforcement officers and escorted to an Investigative Committee vehicle. The Frenchman is accused of failing to provide the necessary documents for registration as a foreign agent.
Russian law mandates individuals receiving foreign backing or influenced by foreign entities to disclose their status as foreign agents. This legislation has been used to suppress opposition to President Putin within Russia and as a basis for detaining individuals, including foreigners.
Notably, last year, Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was arrested on a similar charge, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
