Star Metro - Russia releases French researcher in prisoner exchange

Vinatier, 49, had been jailed in June 2024 and was serving a three-year sentence for failing to register as a "foreign agent" -- a label used by Russia against critics of President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin's policies.

He faced fresh allegations of spying that could have seen him sentenced to another 20 years -- allegations slammed as baseless by Paris.

"Basketball player Daniil Kasatkin, a Russian citizen detained in France and whose extradition to the United States was requested by the American authorities, was returned to Russia," state media outlets quoted the FSB as saying in a statement.

"Kasatkin was exchanged for French citizen Laurent Claude Jean-Louis Vinatier," it added.

State TV outlets published a video of a smiling Vinatier being released from jail, dressed in black and with a large black holdall. He is later seen boarding an aircraft.

In a separate video, Kasatkin is shown getting off a plane and entering a van on the tarmac.

The Kremlin announced last month it had made an offer to France regarding Vinatier -- a Swiss conflict-mediation NGO employee -- prompting hopes he could be freed.

Western countries have long accused Russia of arresting their citizens to use as bargaining chips to secure the release of alleged Russian spies and cyber criminals jailed in Europe and the United States.

Basketballer Kasatkin was arrested last year at a Paris airport at the request of the United States, where he is wanted for having allegedly taken part in a ransomware hacking ring. He denied the accusations.

G.Boudreau--SMC