Source link : https://london-news.net/french-researcher-laurent-vinatier-returns-home-after-high-stakes-prisoner-exchange-with-russia/
French researcher Laurent Vinatier returned to France on Thursday following a prisoner exchange that involved a Russian basketball player sought by the United States, according to official sources.
The swap occurred after both Moscow and Paris expressed a willingness to rekindle dialogue nearly four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Vinatier’s release was part of a deal that included the exchange for 26-year-old Daniil Kasatkin, who was apprehended in France last June on accusations related to hacking originating from the U.S.
President Emmanuel Macron announced on social media, “Our fellow citizen Laurent Vinatier is safe and back in France,” adding that he shared the relief felt by Vinatier’s family and close friends.
After landing at a military base near Paris, Vinatier was greeted by his parents and Jean-Noel Barrot, France’s foreign minister.
Arrested in Russia in June 2024 while documenting what prosecutors described as information on Russian military operations, Vinatier was working for a Swiss NGO specializing in conflict mediation at the time.
He had been sentenced to three years for not registering as a “foreign agent” and was facing additional espionage charges that could result in a sentence of up to 20 years.
Last month, the Kremlin revealed it had made a proposal to France concerning Vinatier’s situation, raising hopes for his release. Russian media broadcast footage of a smiling Vinatier exiting prison, dressed entirely in…
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Publish date : 2026-01-11 13:32:00
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