Moscow And Paris Exchange Frenchman Vinatier For Russian Kasatkin

In the United States, the Russian basketball player faced up to 25 years in prison.

Russian basketball player Daniel Kasatkin has been exchanged for French political scientist Laurent Vinatier, convicted in Russia, the FSB said.

Kasatkin was detained on June 21, 2025, at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport at the request of the United States, which suspected him of being involved in a hacker network that used extortion programs against U.S. companies and federal agencies in 2020-2022.

On October 29, a Paris court ordered Kasatkin's extradition to the United States at the request of U.S. authorities. In the U.S., he faced up to 25 years in prison on computer fraud charges.

Kasatkin played in the VTB United League for MBA-MAI and twice won bronze in the Russian Cup (2023, 2025).

Vinatier was sentenced to three years in the fall of 2024 for allegedly collecting data on Russia's military activities and evading foreign agent duties. In August this year, the Frenchman also became the subject of an espionage investigation.

On a direct line with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on December 19, Jerome Garraud, a journalist for the French channel TF1, said that his colleague Vinatier was already serving time in Russia and that a new charge was now being decided. Putin responded by saying he had not heard of it, but promised to look into it if the law allowed. A few days later, Putin's spokesman Dmitri Peskov said Russia and France were in contact about the Vinatier case.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com