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At U.S. request, France jails Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin on suspicion of ransomware conspiracy
Manage episode 493570832 series 3381925
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A court in Paris has jailed Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin on suspicion of involvement in a hacker group’s extortion activities. The 26-year-old was arrested on June 21 at Charles de Gaulle airport at the request of the United States, which has charged him with conspiracy to commit computer fraud. According to American investigators, Kasatkin acted as an accomplice in a hacker group’s ransomware attacks on roughly 900 companies, including two federal institutions, between 2020 and 2022. Officials believe that Kasatkin participated in negotiations for ransom payments on behalf of the hacker group. He denies this.
Kasatkin’s defense attorney, Frederic Belo, maintains that his client “has poor computer skills” and does not even know how to install software. “He bought a used computer. [...] He didn't touch anything on the computer; it was either hacked, or a hacker sold it [to him] to act under another person’s name,” said Belo. The lawyer requested Kasatkin’s release under judicial supervision and on bail, noting that detention could affect his physical condition and threaten his basketball career.
Kasatkin played for MBA-MAI, a basketball team that competes in the VTB United League, an international professional men’s basketball league. On July 3, days after Kasatkin’s arrest, spokespeople announced his departure after four years with the team.
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