Russia says it has detained a French national in Moscow, accusing him of gathering military intelligence and failing to register as a "foreign agent", AFP reported.
Moscow requires anyone receiving foreign financial support to register as a "foreign agent". The Kremlin has previously used the law as a pretext to arrest people before there is strong evidence against them.
"A French citizen suspected of gathering information about Russia's military activities was detained in Moscow. This information could be used against state security," Russia's Investigative Committee said.
"For this purpose, he has repeatedly visited Russia, including Moscow, where he held meetings with Russian citizens," added the committee.
The authority did not name the man, saying only that he was charged with failing to provide the documents required for "inclusion in the foreign agent register".
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. | BGNES