Russian Basketball Star Detained in France at U.S. Request Over Alleged Hacking Ties

Russian national team point guard Daniil Kasatkin has been detained in France at the request of the United States, accused of being linked to a cybercriminal group, according to AFP reports released Wednesday evening.

Kasatkin was arrested on June 21 at Charles de Gaulle Airport after landing in France with his fiancée. A French judge ruled this week to keep him in custody pending a possible extradition to the U.S.

According to U.S. authorities, the athlete is suspected of acting as a ransom negotiator for a hacker group allegedly responsible for cyberattacks on nearly 900 companies and two U.S. federal institutions between 2020 and 2022.

Kasatkin, who previously studied in the United States, denies all charges. His attorney, Frédéric Belot, told reporters the accusations are unfounded, stating Kasatkin has “poor computer skills” and unknowingly purchased a secondhand laptop that may have been compromised or linked to criminal activity.

The fallout was swift. Within days of his arrest, Moscow-based club MBA confirmed Kasatkin’s departure from the team. Over his tenure, he played 172 games and secured two bronze medals in Russia’s national championship.

This arrest is the latest in a growing list of detentions involving Russian nationals abroad at the request of the U.S. In a notable parallel case, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was detained in France in August 2024 under allegations of failing to prevent criminal activity on his messaging platform. He was later released on €5 million bail, and claimed the French government pressured him to increase censorship on Telegram.

📰 Editor's Take:

This high-profile arrest blurs the lines between sports, geopolitics, and cybersecurity. While the U.S. ramps up its global pursuit of alleged cybercriminals, the optics of detaining a professional athlete — with no proven hacking expertise — raise red flags. Are nations cooperating on justice, or is this another round in the ongoing East vs. West tech-war? With limited transparency and broad accusations, cases like Kasatkin’s risk undermining due process in the name of digital vigilance.

For fans and followers, the question becomes: Is Kasatkin a criminal mastermind — or a pawn in a much bigger game?