The Zamoskvoretsky District Court in Moscow on Tuesday extended the detention of Laurent Vinatier, advisor to Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue’s Eurasia team.  Vinatier was found to be in breach of Article 330.1.3 of the Russian Criminal Code (Evasion of Obligations Under Russia’s Foreign Agent Legislation) and is to be imprisoned until February 21, 2025.

Following the extended detention, the coming hearing is scheduled for September 16, 2024. Due to a previous lack of notice of the proceedings, the court gave the extension for Vinatier to prepare for the hearing. Vinatier is accused of gathering information on Russia’s military without registering as a foreign agent, raising concerns in Moscow that the information could be used by other states against Russia.

In June, Vinatier was arrested in Moscow by officers from the Federal Security Service (FSB). He pleaded guilty, stating that he was unaware of the requirement to register as a foreign agent. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. Vinatier is one of several Western nationals who have been imprisoned in Russia in recent years for various offenses, including espionage and failing to register as foreign agents. Notably, Vinatier was excluded from the prisoner exchange on August 1, 2024, during which 16 individuals imprisoned in Russia and Belarus were released in Ankara, Turkey, and eight Russian detainees were returned to Moscow. Among those released were Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan, who had been imprisoned in Russia.

In 2022, Russia introduced and enacted Federal Law No. 255-FZ, on Control over the Activities of Persons Under Foreign Influence, and other related laws, including amendments to Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and various administrative offenses. These amendments increased restrictions on individuals and entitles labeled as “foreign agents.” Under these regulations, any person collecting information about Russia’s military must register as a foreign agent and is placed on a registry by the Ministry of Justice. Russia has also enacted various laws to suppress free speech, such as expression of anti-war sentiment, and bans on material that differs from Russia’s official “information.”