France – RTL, Aug. 26, 2025
Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher specializing in the post-Soviet space, has been imprisoned in Russia for more than a year on espionage charges. His mother, Brigitte Vinatier, told RTL that she has “confidence” in the French Foreign Ministry (Quai d’Orsay) to find a solution.
Sentenced to three years in prison in Russia, the French researcher Laurent Vinatier once again appeared before the courts on Monday, August 25, on charges of “espionage.” Speaking on RTL on August 26, 2025, the researcher’s mother, Brigitte Vinatier, affirmed that her son is “de facto a hostage, or a political prisoner.”
“We were initially a bit hesitant to use the word ‘hostage,’ but now I don’t see why we wouldn’t,” she added.
