French citizen Vinatier remanded in custody in case into spying on Russian military activities as foreign agent - court

MOSCOW. June 7 (Interfax) - The French citizen accused of gathering intelligence regarding Russia's military activities as a foreign agent has been remanded in custody by Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky District Court at the request of investigators, the court spokesperson told Interfax on Friday.

"A restraining measure for Laurent Claude Jean Louis Vinatier has been selected in the form of detention until August 5, 2024," the spokesperson said.

Vinatier is accused of dodging his obligations as stipulated by Russian laws regarding foreign agents.

It was reported that investigators suspect Vinatier of gathering intelligence concerning Russian military activities.

Vinatier has pleaded guilty, the court said.

According to the inquiry, for some years Vinatier, "having the intent to disregard the Russian statutory obligation to provide an authorized body with documentation required for his inclusion in the register of foreign agents," was engaged in deliberately gathering information on Russian military and military-technical activities.

"That information, once received by foreign sources, can be used against the security of the [Russian] state," the Investigative Committee said.

Vinatier made a number of visits to Russia, including Moscow, for personal reasons, to meet with Russian citizens, the committee said.

The 48-year-old works as a consultant for a Swiss nonprofit called the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, whose mission is "to help prevent, mitigate and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation," its website says.

If convicted, Vinatier could be fined up to 300,000 rubles, or sentenced to up to 480 hours of community service or up to five years of correctional labor or jail.