Overview

• The Lefortovo court confirmed a closed hearing on an espionage investigation, with no specific counts disclosed and no confirmation that he has been formally charged.
• Detained since June 2024, Vinatier was sentenced in October to three years for failing to register as a foreign agent, a ruling upheld on appeal in February.
• The espionage accusation carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years, raising the prospect of a significantly longer detention.
• Vinatier is held at Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, a facility tied to politically sensitive cases, and his parents report only censored letters and no visit for about eighteen months.
• Paris has demanded his release and more information from Russian authorities, while his family fears the outcome and expresses hope he could be included in a prisoner exchange.