The Kremlin announced on Thursday that it has made a “proposal” to France concerning Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher detained in Russia on espionage accusations which could result in a sentence of up to 20 years.

“We have reached out to the French authorities regarding this matter. A proposal about Vinatier was indeed made,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated to the press, without revealing further specifics. “The next steps now depend on France.”

Vinatier, who is employed by a Swiss organization focused on conflict mediation, was taken into custody in June 2024 and subsequently sentenced to three years in prison for not registering as a “foreign agent.” Additional espionage charges have since been filed against him by prosecutors.

Last week, President Vladimir Putin indicated he would investigate the matter after a French journalist inquired about Vinatier during his annual press conference.

“I wasn’t aware of this case until now,” Putin responded to the journalist. “However, I assure you that I will look into it. If there is any possibility for a positive resolution under Russian law, we will endeavor to pursue it.”

Vinatier is part of a group of Western nationals who have been detained in Russia following the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

During hearings related to his initial case, Vinatier, an established expert on Russia, claimed he was unaware of the requirement to register under the “foreign agents” legislation. He expressed regret and stated that he aimed to represent Russia’s interests in his international work.

Human rights organizations and independent monitors have reported that Russian authorities increasingly use alleged breaches of the “foreign agents” law as grounds for apprehending individuals, eventually leading to more significant criminal charges.

Reporting by AFP contributed to this story.