French authorities detain Russian basketball player at US request over hacking allegations

Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin was arrested in France on June 21, at the request of the United States, on charges related to a high-profile hacking scandal. According to reports from AFP, U.S. authorities believe that Kasatkin played a key role in negotiating payoffs for a ransomware ring responsible for hacking around 900 companies and two federal government entities in the US.

Kasatkin's alleged involvement in the hacking scheme is said to have involved demanding money from the victims in exchange for ending their attacks. However, Kasatkin has consistently denied these allegations, with his lawyer Frédéric Bélot stating that he is a "collateral victim" of the crime.

Bélot argued that Kasatkin was unaware of any suspicious activity on the computer due to his lack of technical knowledge. "He's not a computer guy," Bélot said. "He didn't notice any strange behavior on the computer because he doesn’t know how computers work."

A French court denied Kasatkin bail on Wednesday, and he remains in jail awaiting formal extradition notification from U.S. authorities. Kasatkin had traveled to France with his fiancée to visit Paris, but was detained shortly after arriving at the airport.

Bélot also expressed concern over Kasatkin's physical condition, stating that it has deteriorated while in custody and is affecting his athletic career. The lawyer has been vocal about his client's well-being, highlighting the need for improved conditions in the French prison where Kasatkin is being held.

Kasatkin had previously played collegiate basketball at Penn State and spent four seasons with the Moscow-based MBA-MAI team. His arrest has sparked international attention, raising questions about the extradition process and the treatment of Russian nationals abroad.

Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report.