MOSCOW, July 31 Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky Court has extended the arrest of French citizen Laurent Vinatier*, who is recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation and is accused of collecting information about Russia's military activities, until autumn, a correspondent from the courtroom reports court.
«The investigator's motion is granted,» announced Judge Natalya Cheprasova.
Vinatier* himself said that he would not be able to hide from the investigation, since his visa had expired.
Thus, Vinatier* will remain in pretrial detention until at least September 5. The investigation period in the case was extended until the same date.
The Frenchman himself asked to be placed under house arrest. In turn, his lawyer Alexei Sinitsyn supported his client and asked to soften his preventive measure, changing it to house arrest or bail, the amount of which he did not name.
In support of their position, the defense presented documents on the ownership of property in Moscow by Vinat'e's* wife, who sent written consent for him to live in the apartment. Before his arrest, he lived in a hotel, as it was «more convenient for work meetings.»
The defense also pointed out that all the declared witnesses in the case had been questioned, so he allegedly could not put pressure on them, as stated in the investigator's petition.
The Zamoskvoretsky District Court arrested Laurent Claude Jean Louis Vinatier* in early June. A case has been opened against the man under Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, «Evasion of duties stipulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation on foreign agents.»
According to the investigation, for several years Vinatier*, without intending to fulfill his obligations to submit documents for inclusion in the register of foreign agents, purposefully collected information «in the area of military and military-technical activities of the Russian Federation.»
Earlier in court, the Frenchman admitted his guilt and repented. At the hearing to choose a preventive measure for him, Vinatier* said that he is a doctor of science and works as an adviser at the Swiss Center for Humanitarian Dialogue.
Earlier, the FSB Public Relations Center reported that Vinatier* collected military information that could be used by foreign intelligence services to the detriment of the security of the Russian Federation, in conversations with experts and government officials.
* An individual performing the functions of a foreign agent in Russia.