San Francisco Frontiers - Russia says made 'proposal' to France over jailed researcher

The surprise public overture prompted hopes from Vinatier's family that he could be freed in a matter of days, and comes as both Russia and France have expressed interest in possible talks between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron.

Vinatier, who works for a Swiss conflict mediation NGO and was jailed in June 2024, is serving a three-year sentence for failing to register as a "foreign agent". But he faces fresh allegations of spying.

"There were appropriate contacts between our side and the French. Indeed, a proposal was made to the French regarding Vinatier," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including AFP.

Peskov did not provide details.

"The ball is now in France's court," he added.

Vinatier's family have rejected the accusations against him, saying he is a victim of tensions between Moscow and Paris over the war in Ukraine.

Western countries have long accused Russia of arresting their citizens on baseless charges. They accuse Moscow of seeking to use them as bargaining chips to secure the release of alleged Russian spies and cyber criminals jailed in Europe and the United States.

Putin said last week he would look into Vinatier's case after a French journalist asked him about it during an end-of-year televised news conference.

"I don't know anything about this case. This is the first I've heard of it," Putin said.

"But I promise you I'll definitely find out what it is. And if there's even the slightest chance of resolving this matter favourably, if Russian law allows it, we'll make every effort," Putin said.

- Putin 'ready' for dialogue -

Asked by AFP about the Kremlin statement, the French foreign ministry declined to comment.

Vinatier's family remains "cautiously optimistic" and hopes he can be freed during New Year holidays and Orthodox Christmas on January 7, their lawyer told AFP on Thursday.

"We have every confidence in French diplomacy, which is doing its utmost," lawyer Frederic Belot said, expressing hope that Vinatier's fate would be discussed between Putin and Macron.

The Kremlin said at the weekend that Putin was "ready" to engage in dialogue with the French leader.

This came after Macron extended an olive branch to Moscow, raising the possibility that the two men could soon speak amid a flurry of diplomacy over the Ukraine war.

Macron has urged Russia to free Vinatier, saying he is being unfairly detained and that the "propaganda" against him "does not match reality".

He is just one of the Westerners arrested inside Russia after Putin launched an all-out offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.

Several US citizens have been imprisoned and then released in exchanges brokered by both US President Donald Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden.

In the original case, prosecutors accused Vinatier of gathering military information without registering with the Russian authorities -- something he apologised for and said he was not aware he was required to do.

Speaking Russian during that trial, he said that in his work he always tried to "present Russia's interests in international relations".

In brief remarks as he was led by police from a court hearing in the Russian capital over the summer, he said he was "tired".

Asked whether he felt like a "hostage" of the authorities, he replied in French: "Yes."

Moscow has used alleged breaches of the "foreign agents" law to arrest people before then applying more serious charges -- as happened to Vinatier.

L.Lopez--SFF