A French researcher imprisoned in Russia is under new investigation for espionage, a court filing showed on Wednesday. Laurent Vinatier, already serving a three-year sentence, faces a hearing on August 25. The new charges carry a potential prison term of up to 20 years.
A French researcher who is serving three years in a Russian prison is now being investigated forespionage, according to a court filing seen by AFP on Wednesday.
Documents showed thatLaurentVinatier is facing a new court hearing on August 25 on espionage charges, which carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Vinatier, who worked for a Swiss conflict mediation organisation, is one of a number of Westerners who have been arrested in Russia since diplomatic tensions soared over Ukraine.
The French government has demanded that Moscow release him and accused Russia of takingWesterners hostage.
Read moreRussian court upholds French researcher's jail sentence for 'espionage'
He was found guilty in October last year of gathering information on the Russian military and of violating its "foreign agent" law, as he did not register as one.
The "foreign agent" law has been widely used against domesticKremlincritics.
Vinatier worked as an adviser with the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, and is a veteran researcher on Russia and other post-Soviet countries.
He said in court that in his work he always tried to "present Russia's interests in international relations".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Originally published on France24
