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The pretrial detention of Frenchman Laurent Vinatier has been extended until February 21, Russian justice announced. Moscow accuses the researcher of not having registered as a “foreign agent” in the country.
The pre-trial detention in Russia of Frenchman Laurent Vinatier, accused of not registering as a “foreign agent”, has been extended by six months, until February 21, a judge at a Moscow court announced on Tuesday, on the first day of a trial that was immediately adjourned.
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“The court considers it impossible to start the examination of the criminal case. The hearing is postponed to September 16 at 2 p.m.,” said Judge Natalia Cheprasova, after noting the extension of his detention. The adjournment had been requested because Laurent Vinatier was reportedly informed too late of the hearing date. The 48-year-old Frenchman appeared smiling, wearing a blue shirt and dark jeans and talking with his lawyers.
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“I am thinking of my wife and children,” he told them, in Russian, during a recess in the hearing. Authorities accused him of failing to register as a “foreign agent” even though he was collecting “information in the field of military activities” that could be “used against the security” of Russia. He faces up to five years in prison.
Previously, the accusation had raised fears of a more serious charge, such as “espionage”, a crime punishable by 20 years in prison.
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