Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin has found himself at the center of an international scandal: on June 21, he was detained in France at the request of the United States. U.S. investigators suspect the athlete of involvement in a major ransomware operation that allegedly extorted money from nearly 900 companies and two federal agencies. This information comes from AFP, citing law enforcement sources.
According to U.S. authorities, Kasatkin was allegedly involved in negotiating ransoms with the victims of cyberattacks — organizations that were targeted by a hacking group demanding payments in exchange for halting their operations. However, Kasatkin denies all accusations. His lawyer, Frédéric Bélot, told Politico that his client is a “collateral victim” of the crime.
“He’s not a computer guy. He bought a second-hand laptop and had no idea it was infected with malware. He didn’t notice anything strange because he doesn’t know how computers work,” Bélot explained.
The defense argues that the case against Kasatkin is baseless, and that his arrest could destroy his professional athletic career. A French court has already denied him bail, and he remains in custody awaiting a formal extradition request from U.S. authorities.
According to Bélot, Kasatkin had traveled to France on vacation with his fiancée and was arrested shortly after arriving at the airport in Paris.
Kasatkin previously played collegiate basketball for Penn State University and later spent four seasons with the Moscow-based team MBA-MAI. Bélot also noted that his client’s physical condition has deteriorated in jail, putting his future in professional sports at risk.
Politico points out that Kasatkin’s case may become another flashpoint in the already tense relationship between Washington and Moscow, particularly in light of ongoing disputes over extraditions and prisoner swaps.
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