Russia has freed French researcher Laurent Vinatier, who was serving a three-year prison sentence, in exchange for the release by France of a jailed Russian, state media reported on Thursday.
Russia’s FSB security service said Vinatier, 49, had been pardoned by President Vladimir Putin, according to the RIA news agency.
The announcement came after France freed Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin from custody.
The FSB released footage on Thursday showing both men being freed.
Kasatkin’s lawyer Frédéric Belot said his client, who was detained last June at the request of the United States over alleged involvement in hacking attacks, flew back to Moscow on Thursday.
Four charged in Paris over suspected Russia-linked spy network
Foreign agent case
Vinatier, who works for a Swiss conflict mediation group, was arrested in June 2023 for allegedly gathering information on the Russian army.
He was sentenced in 2024 to three years in a penal colony for failing to register as a “foreign agent”, a charge for which he apologised.
While in prison, he was later placed under additional investigation for espionage and was facing a possible further trial in the coming months, with a potential sentence of up to 20 years.
Vinatier has rejected the accusations of spying. His family say he is a victim of tensions between Russia and France over the war in Ukraine.
In February, a Russian court rejected Vinatier’s appeal.
France condemned the sentence and demanded his immediate release, accusing Russia of taking Westerners hostage.
The Kremlin said in late December it had made a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, after Putin said he would look into his case.
(with newswires)
