Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 25, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleRussia proposes a deal to France over jailed researcher Vinatier, accused of violating foreign agent laws. France calls for his release, denying state involvement.
MOSCOW, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Russia had made a proposal to France regarding Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher jailed for violating Russia's foreign agent laws, and the ball is now in Paris's court, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
Vinatier was sentenced in 2024 to three years in jail for failing to comply with laws requiring individuals deemed "foreign agents" to register and meet a number of stipulations. He is now facing additional espionage charges.
France has said Vinatier was arbitrarily detained and has called for his release. President Emmanuel Macron has denied that Vinatier worked for the French state and has described his arrest as part of a misinformation campaign by Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that there had been contacts with France on the issue.
"There were indeed relevant contacts between us and the French," Peskov told reporters. "Indeed, an offer was made to the French about this. The ball is in France's court right now."
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that he would look into the case.
(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Anastasia Teterevleva; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Gleb Bryanski)
Compliance refers to the process of adhering to laws, regulations, and guidelines set by governing bodies. In finance, it ensures that institutions operate within legal frameworks to avoid penalties.
Detention is the act of holding someone in custody, often by law enforcement, typically for legal reasons. It can occur during investigations or as a result of legal charges.
Arbitrary detention refers to the unlawful or unjustified holding of an individual without legal cause or due process. It often violates human rights and legal standards.
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