“Everything has changed now.” This Monday, August 25, French investigator Laurent Vinatier, already sentenced to three years in prison in Russia, appeared before a court in Moscow for accusations of “espionage”.
“Until yesterday, in the press, we had spoken the word ‘espionage’, but it had not been officially said,” said the defendant’s mother, Brigitte Vinatier, in the RTL microphone. “Everything has changed now.”
These new accusations suggest an extension of their prayer, which can go to 20 years in prison. Sentenced in October 2024 to three years in prison, Moscow reproached Laurent Vinatier for not having registered as a “foreign agent” while the humanitarian dialogue center used it on Russian soil, a Switzerland in charge of conflict mediation.
Laurent Vinatier’s family ignores at this stage the result of the audience that took place on Monday in the Chamber, in Moscow. “We have been worried for more than a year,” says Brigitte Vinatier, who says he spoke with his son for the last time on May 22. “We brought a phone to his cell and could call us,” he told RTL.
Since then, Laurent Vinatier has had an epistolary correspondence with his family. “We have letters that come more and more frequently, sometimes once a week. He doesn’t tell us he is tired because he doesn’t want to worry. He thinks we are already quite well,” Brigitte Vinatier continues.
“Good” detention conditions
With respect to their detention conditions, they are quite “good”, estimates their mother. “It is in a cell, alone. During the last two weeks, another prisoner has joined. It is a comfortable cell, it has a bed, a small refrigerator, so we cannot say that these are difficult conditions,” says Brigitte Vinatier in the RTL microphone.
However, the defendant is “absolutely obliged by secret.” This means that he has “the prohibition of seeing someone,” he explains. “The walks in the patio are obviously without a meeting, and that is what remains very difficult.”
According to Brigitte Vinatier, his son was recently transferred to the Lefortovo Moscow prison, particularly known for accommodating the prisoners mentioned in political resonance.
“A host or a political prisoner”
Laurent Vinatier is “de facto, a hostage or a political prisoner,” Brigitte Vinatier said. “We were a little reluctant for the term hostage, now I don’t see why we wouldn’t use it,” he accuses.
In the curve of a corridor at the RTL facilities, Brigitte Vinatier had the opportunity to challenge the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barot, morning guest.
“He told us that everything would be done and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked in the case of our son,” explains Brigitte Vinatier, who claims to “have confidence.” “Now we are waiting for a real strategy and a real discussion among people who have the power to organize an exchange,” he says.
For his part, Paris demanded from Moscow the release of his national, accusing Russia of trying to take Westerners as hostages, while relations between the two countries are at their lowest point since the Russian assault against Ukraine was launched in 2022 and the sanctions that followed.
According to Brigitte Vinatier, “research for espionage continues” in Moscow. Laurent Vinatier will have to remain in prison and be questioned once more. However, there is a date: November 27 according to his information, but “we don’t know what that means.” “We are waiting with hope,” he concludes.
Source: BFM TV
