A French researcher who was recently sentenced to three years in prison by Russia, a decision heavily criticized by Paris, has been moved to a transit penal colony. Laurent Vinatier, one of several Western individuals imprisoned by Moscow since it launched its operations in Ukraine, was found guilty in October of breaching Russia’s “foreign agent” law.

Vinatier, employed by a Swiss conflict-mediation NGO, was apprehended last summer during a period of escalating tensions between France, Russia, and other Western nations over Ukraine.

The researcher’s familial network informed AFP that Vinatier’s lawyer has confirmed his transfer from Moscow to Tula, located approximately 120 miles south of the capital, to a transit penal facility. Vinatier is required to undergo a 15-day quarantine within the prison. However, the exact destination to which he will be transferred afterwards remains unknown, as prisoner transfers within Russia’s vast penal system can take several weeks to complete.

As a seasoned researcher on Russia and post-Soviet countries who is proficient in Russian, Vinatier has consistently emphasized in court that his work aims to “present Russia’s interests in international relations.” Despite his efforts, he lost his appeal in February.

France has persistently demanded Vinatier’s release, labelling his sentence as “arbitrary.” President Emmanuel Macron has consistently advocated on his behalf, urging Russia to set him free.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/10/laurent-vinatier-french-researcher-jailed-russia-penal-colony