Russia releases French researcher in prisoner exchange for Russian US wanted extradited
THEMOSCOWTIMES.COM
PRISONER EXCHANGE
SUMMARY

Russia has released French researcher Laurent Vinatier in a prisoner exchange for Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin, according to state media. Vinatier had been imprisoned since June 2024 for failing to register as a "foreign agent." He faced new allegations of espionage, which France deemed baseless.

Kasatkin, a basketball player, was arrested in France at the request of the U.S. for alleged cyber crimes, pending extradition. U.S. believe he negotiated payoffs for a ransomware ring that hacked around 900 companies and two federal government entities in the U.S., demanding money to end their attacks.

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