Russia arrests Frenchman suspected of collecting military intelligence

Russian investigators said on Thursday they had detained a French citizen on suspicion of gathering information about the activities of the Russian military. (AFP/File)

• The man was suspected, over a period of several years, to have “purposefully collected information in the field of military and military-technical activities of the Russian Federation“
• Investigators said the man, whom they did not identify, would be charged shortly under a Russian law on failing to register as a “foreign agent“

LONDON: Russian investigators said on Thursday they had detained a French citizen on suspicion of gathering information about the activities of the Russian military.
The state Investigative Committee said the man was suspected, over a period of several years, to have “purposefully collected information in the field of military and military-technical activities of the Russian Federation.”
It added: “This information, when obtained by foreign sources, can be used against the security of the state. For these purposes, he repeatedly visited the territory of Russia, including the city of Moscow, where he held meetings with citizens of the Russian Federation.”
Investigators said the man, whom they did not identify, would be charged shortly under a Russian law on failing to register as a “foreign agent,” which carries a punishment of up to five years in prison.
No comment was immediately available from the French Foreign Ministry in Paris.
The TASS state news agency identified the man as an employee of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a Swiss-based nonprofit, whose website says it has operated since 1999 to “help prevent, mitigate and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation” in countries such as Spain, the Philippines and Libya.
HD did not immediately reply to a request to confirm the arrested man was its employee. It was not immediately clear if the organization has operations or staff in Russia.