The Lefortovo District Court of Moscow received a petition to extend the arrest of French political scientist Laurent Vinatier. Last year, he was sentenced to three years in prison in a criminal case on failure to submit documents for inclusion in the register of foreign agents. Now the French citizen, who was researching the North Caucasus, including Chechnya, is accused of espionage (Article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

On June 6, 2024, Vinatier was detained in Moscow. He was charged under the article on failure to submit documents for inclusion in the register of foreign agents. According to the charges, in 2021 and 2022, the political scientist met with three Russians and collected information "on the mobilization, combat training of troops" and the political situation in Russia. On October 14, 2024, a Moscow court sentenced Vinatier to 3 years in a general regime penal colony. He was recognized as a political prisoner.