France Exchanges Russian Wanted by US for Jailed Academic
In this image, made from video and provided by Russian Federal Security Service via Russia-1 TV channel on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, Daniil Kasatkin is seen after being released in a prisoner swap with France (Russian Federal Security Service/Russia-1 TV channel via AP)
A French academic imprisoned in Russia has returned to France following a prisoner exchange that sent a Russian basketball player wanted by the United States back to Moscow.
French President Emmanuel Macron said researcher Laurent Vinatier, 49, was released after being pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin and exchanged for Russian athlete Daniil Kasatkin, according to Reuters. Vinatier had been serving a three-year sentence for failing to register under Russia’s “foreign agent” law and was also the subject of a separate espionage investigation. French authorities had described his detention as arbitrary and denied any links between Vinatier and French intelligence services.
Russia’s FSB security service said Vinatier was exchanged for Kasatkin, who was arrested at a Paris airport in June 2024 on a U.S. warrant alleging involvement in ransomware attacks. Kasatkin has denied the charges. His lawyer has argued that the athlete lacks technical expertise and may have unknowingly used a device controlled by cybercriminals. The same attorney, Frédéric Belot, represents both men. Kasatkin departed France and arrived in Moscow on Thursday.
The FSB accused Vinatier of collecting sensitive political and military information on behalf of Swiss intelligence, including details related to combat and training plans. Russian authorities said the case was dropped due to what they described as his “active repentance.”
At the time of his arrest in Moscow, Vinatier was working for the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Colleagues said his activities were legitimate academic research. During his trial, Vinatier apologized, expressed admiration for Russia, and quoted poet Alexander Pushkin.
Macron thanked French diplomats for securing Vinatier’s release and said he shared the relief felt by the researcher’s family. The Associated Press reported that Putin said he would look into Vinatier’s case after a French journalist raised the issue during his year-end news conference, though Putin initially said he was unaware of it. Days later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had made an offer to France.
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