French Researcher Jailed by Russia Is Sent to Penal Colony


UK – The Guardian, April 10, 2025

Laurent Vinatier was sentenced to three years in prison in October for violating Russia’s ‘foreign agent’ law

A French researcher who was sentenced by Russia to three years in prison, in a case condemned by Paris, has been transferred to a transit penal colony.

Laurent Vinatier is one of several westerners jailed by Moscow since it began its Ukraine offensive. He was sentenced in October after being found guilty of violating Russia’s “foreign agent” law.

Vinatier, who works for a Swiss conflict-mediation NGO, was arrested last summer as tensions with France and other western countries soared over Ukraine.

According to a message from his family to AFP, Vinatier’s lawyer informed them that he was transferred from Moscow to Tula – about 120 miles (190km) south of the capital – to a transit penal colony.

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