A Moscow court sentenced French political scientist Laurent Vinatier to three years in prison on charges of gathering military-related information without registering as a 'foreign agent'.

Moscow court sentenced French political scientist Laurent Vinatier to three years in prison on charges of gathering military-related information without registering as a 'foreign agent'

Vinatier was collecting military-related data and was thus obligated to register himself as a 'foreign agent' with Russia's Ministry of Justice

Vinatier met with three Russian nationals and collected information related to mobilization, military training, and political conditions that could be detrimental to Russia's security

Vinatier was initially detained on June 7, at which time he reportedly confessed after an interrogation

Vinatier requested an expedited legal process, meaning the case proceeded without the presentation of evidence

Vinatier is affiliated with the Swiss NGO Center for Humanitarian Dialogue

The Zamoskvoretskyi District Court in Moscow ordered the seizure of his property

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the political scientist had no affiliations with French intelligence or other governmental agencies

A court in Moscow sentenced Laurent Vinatier to three years in a penal colony for breaking Russia's law on registering as a foreign agent.

Prosecutors said Vinatier was gathering information on Russia's military while working for a Switzerland-based NGO.