Overview
- Vinatier, a 49-year-old researcher detained since June 2024, was already serving a three-year sentence for failing to register as a “foreign agent.”
- A hearing expected this week was instead held quietly on November 21, according to the family’s lawyer, underscoring the opaque process.
- The espionage investigation has been prolonged, with the defense told to expect investigators’ conclusions by late January and a likely trial date of February 28.
- His parents have gone public about tight communication limits, saying letters must be in Russian and censored, with no phone calls or family visits allowed.
- French diplomacy says it remains fully engaged, and a Le Monde appeal signed by dozens of public figures urges Paris to secure his release.